What it means
Means scarpering out sharpish, usually because you’ve legged it without paying or you don’t fancy the consequences. Classic for doing a taxi or restaurant bill, or bolting the moment someone’s about to kick off. It implies dodgy behaviour and a bit of panic, not a graceful exit. If you do a runner, you’re gone before anyone can say oi.
Usage examples
"Gary nicked the last sausage roll, the bouncer clocked him, and he did a runner out the kebab shop, leaving his mate to pay like a mug."
"They ordered the lot and then did a runner, left the poor waiter staring at a table full of empty plates."
"He did a runner halfway through the meeting, muttered something about a dentist and was gone before anyone could blink."
Where it comes from
Pure British, built from doing a run for it, legging it before anyone can stop you. To do a runner is to slip off in a hurry, skipping out on a bill, a date or a sticky situation, leaving behind only an empty chair and a few raised eyebrows.
Other ways to say it
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