runaround

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Emails to Saks asking about owed payments often went unanswered or were met with a runaround, said Emiliano Shnitzer-Bartocci, vice president of CTE Watch Co., which distributes Timex watches and Ray-Ban sunglasses among other accessories.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

The agencies, he said, gave him the runaround and he couldn’t get anyone to answer his calls — which he said was perplexing, considering the rapid response when he alerted them to infected cattle.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2025

People generally use “Kafkaesque” as an exaggerated metaphor, perhaps to describe the runaround you get from an insurance company or an especially aggravating trip to the DMV.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2025

“Every day they call to get an update. Every single day they’re calling. And they get the runaround every single day, repeatedly,” she said.

From New York Times • May 1, 2024

I didn’t have time for all her runaround talk, and I was surprised that she cared so little.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri