doing a runner
Leaving without paying
Doing a runner is British slang for leaving hastily, especially to avoid paying a bill or escaping an obligation.
Someone might do a runner from a restaurant after eating without paying, or from a difficult situation they'd rather not face.
He did a runner before the police arrived.
The phrase suggests furtive, hurried departure rather than a casual exit.
- fleeDepart swiftly from threat
- abscondFlee to avoid capture
- do a bunkDepart secretly, avoiding responsibility
- skip townDepart hastily to evade
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
skedaddle · dash · irresponsibility · shirking · take off · run off · escape · leg it · make tracks · cut and run · fly the coop · desertion · vanish · abandonment · hotfoot it · hit the road · elope · dine and dash
doing a runnerstaying put
Remaining in place
standing one's ground · remaining · sticking around · facing the music · staying behind
doing a runnerfacing the music
Accepting responsibility for actions
taking responsibility · owning up · doing the right thing · coming clean · fessing up