Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

to-give-someone-the-runaround

Phrase
/tə ˈɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə ˈrʌnəˌraʊnd/
Definition
To evade giving someone a clear answer or the help they need, often leading them to feel frustrated or confused.
Examples
  • Every time I asked about my application status, they just gave me the runaround.
  • Stop giving me the runaround and tell me what the real issue is.
  • When I called customer service, they gave me the runaround instead of resolving my problem.
Meaning
When someone gives another person the runaround, they are being deliberately unhelpful or are providing misleading information instead of a straightforward response or solution.
Synonyms
  • to avoid
  • to mislead
  • to procrastinate
  • to evade