Give someone the runaround
Meaning
To deliberately delay or mislead someone by sending them to different people or places, often to avoid providing assistance or a direct answer.
Origin
Imagine being trapped in a bureaucratic maze, sent from one counter to another, each clerk pointing to someone else, promising answers that never materialize. This frustrating dance, where you're made to literally or figuratively 'run around' in circles without progress, gave birth to the phrase 'give someone the runaround.' Emerging in the early 20th century, particularly within the bustling, often impersonal landscapes of modern business and public services, it captured the infuriating experience of deliberate evasion. It's the sensation of chasing an invisible solution, exhausting your patience as you're perpetually directed elsewhere, all to avoid a direct answer or a simple resolution.
Examples
- The customer service department gave me the runaround for hours, transferring me from one person to another without solving my problem.
- He tried to give his boss the runaround about why the project wasn't finished, but his excuses quickly fell apart.