on the run

O

on the run (idiom)
/ɑn ðə rʌn/

Meaning

• Fleeing from law enforcement or avoiding capture by authorities.
• Moving quickly from place to place, usually due to being very busy or in a hurry.
• Escaping from something dangerous or threatening.
• Traveling or relocating frequently, without a fixed place to stay.
• Being in active motion or constant movement.
• Competing in a race or athletic event that involves running.

Example Sentences

1. The thief is on the run after escaping from jail.
2. She’s always on the run, juggling meetings and calls.
3. The soldiers were on the run from enemy fire.
4. After losing his home, he lived on the run across different cities.
5. We’ve been on the run all morning getting everything ready.
6. He trained hard to stay fast on the run during the marathon.

Origin and History

Core Meaning of “Run”

The foundational word “run” itself has deep roots in Old English. It meant “to move swiftly by using the legs” and also “to make haste” or “to flee.” This intrinsic meaning of rapid movement and escape forms the bedrock for the idiom. Over centuries, “run” developed many figurative senses, extending to anything that moves or flows continuously, from streams to machinery. This broad semantic field makes tracing specific idiomatic uses challenging.

Early Concepts of Flight and Retreat

The idea of being “on the run” likely evolved from literal descriptions of people or animals fleeing. Phrases like “run for it” appeared as early as the 1640s, explicitly meaning “to take flight.” This shows a historical precedent for “run” conveying escape. It is easy to imagine how “on the run” could naturally emerge from such expressions, signifying the state of being in continuous flight.

The Influence of Horse Racing

Some theories suggest that the idiom might have roots in horse racing. Phrases like “in (or out of) the running,” meaning “among (or not among) the lead competitors,” appeared in 1863. “Make the running,” meaning “set the pace,” is recorded from 1837. This sporting context emphasizes continuous movement and competition. While “on the run” isn’t a direct derivative, the sporting world’s rich idiom base, often drawing on movement, could have contributed to its development. The idea of a horse being “on the run” to avoid being caught or to maintain a lead fits the concept of constant movement under pressure.

The Criminal Underworld and Escape

A strong and widely accepted theory links “on the run” to the criminal underworld. The phrase is most commonly used today to describe fugitives. Criminals constantly “run” from the law. This constant state of evasion naturally led to the descriptive “on the run.” The urgency and clandestine nature of such a life perfectly capture the idiom’s essence. This usage likely became prevalent as policing and pursuit became more organized.

A Financial Connection?

Interestingly, “on the run” also has a distinct meaning in finance. An “on-the-run security” is the most recently issued and most liquid bond or note of a particular maturity. These securities are actively traded. While this financial term clearly uses “run” in the sense of current and active, it appears to be a separate, more specialized development and not directly related to the common idiom of escape. This financial usage does not contribute to the origin of the idiom as commonly understood.

Imagined Origins: The Wild West and Beyond

One might imagine the phrase finding traction in the American Wild West. Outlaws and lawmen were frequently “on the run,” either fleeing justice or pursuing it. The constant movement, the need for speed, and the life of a fugitive would have made “on the run” a fitting description. Similarly, military contexts, describing retreating armies or scouting parties, could have fostered such language. The universality of “running” as a concept for both literal and figurative flight makes it likely that the idiom arose from various practical situations across different cultures.

Country of Origin and Earliest Printed Record

The phrase “on the run” appears to have originated in English-speaking countries, specifically within the development of the English language itself. Its presence in American English and British English dictionaries suggests a shared evolution.

Finding the single earliest printed record of the exact phrase “on the run” in its most common idiomatic sense is challenging. Many sources point to the concept of running for escape existing for centuries. However, the exact phrasing “on the run” in a widely recognized, published form often points to later periods.

While comprehensive digital archives for early printed materials are still developing, a notable cultural reference that popularized the phrase significantly is Paul McCartney and Wings’ 1973 album and song “Band on the Run.” Paul McCartney stated that the lyric “If we ever get out of here” was inspired by a comment from George Harrison about the Beatles being “prisoners” of their company, Apple. He also mentioned the idea of musicians being “outlawed for pot” as an inspiration. This clearly uses “on the run” in the sense of fleeing or being a fugitive. While this is a prominent example of its use and popularization, the phrase itself existed before 1973.

Earlier records often show uses of “run” in similar contexts, such as “run-away” or “run for it.” pinpointing the precise first instance of “on the run” as a standalone idiom is difficult due to its gradual emergence from these older, related phrases. However, linguistic analysis suggests its usage solidified in the 19th and early 20th centuries to describe a state of being a fugitive.

Synonyms

1. in flight
2. fleeing
3. on the move
4. in a hurry

Variants

• on the move
• in flight
• on the go
• running from

Law, Travel