give someone the runaround
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
[edit]give someone the runaround (third-person singular simple present gives someone the runaround, present participle giving someone the runaround, simple past gave someone the runaround, past participle given someone the runaround)
- (idiomatic) To delay, dodge, or frustrate (someone), especially by providing useless information or directions.
- They gave me the runaround when I called. I got a full tour of the facility by phone, but no answer to my question.
- 1986 April 19, Loie Hayes, Donna Deitch, “Leapin' Lesbians!”, in Gay Community News, page 8:
- Deitch decided seven years ago that she wanted to film a lesbian love story. When major producers gave her the run-around, she formed her own production company, hustled for backers and gathered the right crew of technicians and actors to make it happen.