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  • Feifei: Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei...

  • Rob: And I'm Rob. Quick Feifei, shut that door.

  • Feifei: OK, calm down Rob, what's the problem?

  • Rob: Well there's something going on in the office -

  • everyone's shouting and arguing about who broke

  • the computer - you know, the new one

  • with all that fancy software on it.

  • Feifei: Oh yes, that really expensive one.

  • So you've run away from the situation -

  • that makes you look very guilty.

  • Rob: That's true - but the problem is, I am guilty.

  • But the boss seemed so angry;

  • I thought it best to... well... sort of...

  • Feifei: Do a runner!

  • Rob: If you mean to leave a place in order to avoid

  • a difficult or unpleasant situation -

  • then I suppose you're right.

  • Feifei: I am!

  • Rob: Oh no, is someone coming? I'll just hide under

  • the desk while we hear some examples of this phrase in action...

  • Examples: The new trainee did a runner after the first

  • day - I don't think he could cope with

  • the high-pressure environment.

  • When they started to blame me for the mistake,

  • I felt it best to do a runner and keep out of the way.

  • Feifei: So that's the phrase, to do a runner,

  • which means leave a place quickly in order to avoid

  • a difficult or unpleasant situation.

  • But Rob, this phrase has another similar meaning too?

  • Rob: Yes. You can 'do a runner' from a place

  • to avoid paying for something.

  • Feifei: Like a restaurant. Have you done that Rob?

  • Rob: Of course not! You know how honest I am.

  • Feifei: Honest? Is that why you are hiding in this studio,

  • rather than admit you broke the new computer?

  • Rob: Well, it was an accident. Oh no...

  • the boss is heading straight for the studio.

  • I had better dash... see ya.

  • Feifei: Bye Rob. It looks like he's done a

  • runner... again. Bye.

Feifei: Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei...

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