Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Informal Deception, usually in the form of evasive excuses.
  • noun Printing Type set in a column narrower than the body of the text, as on either side of a picture.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A new or artificial channel by which the whole or a portion of the water of a stream is diverted from its usual channel and flows around an obstacle, such as a dam or ice-gorge, and returns again to its normal channel below the obstruction.
  • noun In medicine, paronychia; whitlow.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun a delaying or evasive, and sometimes deceptive, answer to an inquiry or request.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An evasive explanation in the form of multiple excuses
  • noun printing A section of type that is narrower than that of the column it is part of; typically next to an illustration

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the phrasal verb run around

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Examples

  • With blanke contracts like ODIN, the whole runaround is much shorter and takes fewer labor hours.

    ODIN Accepts a 15% Markup on Everything - NASA Watch 2008

  • Laura James, Co-Chair of the Toronto Alternative Primary School Council is getting the runaround from the Toronto District School Board, who have all but declared war on alternative education in the city.

    Boing Boing: November 16, 2003 - November 22, 2003 Archives 2003

  • We asked for a copy of that law but we got the runaround, which is normal for the government.

    Brownsville Herald : 2010

  • Is this the typical kind of runaround that families of victims get when they go to court and try to get justice?

    CNN Transcript Jan 13, 2009 2009

  • But by getting this kind of runaround, you're actually considering now foreclosure as an option?

    CNN Transcript Mar 7, 2009 2009

  • However, he said the NHTSA gave him the "runaround" and Toyota allowed him only to speak to entry-level employees.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

  • However, he said the NHTSA gave him the "runaround" and Toyota allowed him only to speak to entry-level employees.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

  • However, he said the NHTSA gave him the "runaround" and Toyota allowed him only to speak to entry-level employees.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

  • However, he said the NHTSA gave him the "runaround" and Toyota allowed him only to speak to entry-level employees.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

  • However, he said the NHTSA gave him the "runaround" and Toyota allowed him only to speak to entry-level employees.

    Latest News - UPI.com 2010

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