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# the runs

phrase (noun phrase, «the runs», plural form, informal); «run» is also a noun and verb (run, runs, ran, running)

«the runs» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (slang) diarrhoea: runny, frequent poo.
2. (ordinary) «runs» = points scored in cricket or baseball.
3. (ordinary) more than one run or race.

### In the lessons

A casual word for an embarrassing illness, used at home and among friends in all English-speaking countries; it sounds less medical than «diarrhoea». In sport, «runs» is a scoring word.

### Examples

- (home) I can't go to school, I've got the runs.
- (holiday) Half the class got the runs from the water.
- (chat) dodgy curry, now got the runs
- (doctor, politely) "Have you had diarrhoea?" "Yes, the runs since yesterday."
- (cricket) She scored 45 runs.
- (baseball) The team scored 3 runs in the ninth inning.
- (maths) If he scored 12, 30 and 18 runs, his total is 60 runs.

### Note

Trap: in a sport or maths problem «runs» are points scored — add them up. «The runs» (with «the», about your tummy) is illness. Informal; to a doctor or teacher say «an upset stomach» or «diarrhoea».