runaround

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noun

An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses.

“I called them to find out what had happened to my parcel, but all I got was a runaround.”

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Meanings

nounrunaround (plural runarounds)

plural runarounds · alternative run-around · alternative run around

  1. idiomaticAn evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses.

    I called them to find out what had happened to my parcel, but all I got was a runaround.

  2. A detour or route that bypasses an obstacle.
  3. mediaA section of type that is narrower than that of the column it is part of; typically next to an illustration.
  4. A whitlow running around the fingernail but not affecting the bone.

Origin

Deverbal from run around.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian увъртане
  • увъртане (uvărtane)evasive explanation
German ausweichende Antwort, Ausweichen
  • ausweichende Antwortevasive explanation
  • Ausweichenevasive explanation
Portuguese enrolação
  • enrolaçãoevasive explanation
Russian отговорки, увиливание от ответа
  • отговорки (otgovorki)evasive explanation
  • увиливание от ответа (uvilivanije ot otveta)evasive explanation
  • волокита (volokita)evasive explanation
Spanish dar largas
  • dar largasevasive explanation
Cite this entry
APA

runaround. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaround

MLA

“runaround.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaround. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “runaround,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runaround.

Source: runaround on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.