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"Run down" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "atropellar", and "run out" is an intransitive verb phrase which is often translated as "acabarse". Learn more about the difference between "run down" and "run out" below.
run down(
ruhn
daun
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. atropellar
The bus driver accidentally ran down an old lady crossing the street.El conductor del autobús accidentalmente atropelló a una anciana que cruzaba la calle.
2. (to find)
a. localizar
They let the hounds loose to run down the escaped convicts.Soltaron a los sabuesos para localizar a los convictos escapados.
b. encontrar
I had to go all over town, but I finally ran down the part I needed for the dishwasher.Tuve que recorrer toda la ciudad, pero al fin encontré la parte que necesitaba para el lavavajillas.
3. (colloquial) (to disparage)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. menospreciar
His mother had the nerve to run him down in front of his girlfriend.Su madre tuvo las agallas de menospreciarlo delante de su novia.
b. criticar
Despite the fact that the press ran him down, he won the election anyway.A pesar de que la prensa lo criticara, ganó las elecciones de todos modos.
4. (to reduce)
a. ir reduciendo
Due to a decrease in demand for refrigerators, we're running down the stock of refrigerator parts.Debido a una disminución de la demanda de refrigeradores, vamos reduciendo las existencias de sus piezas.
b. agotar
The slowdown in sales has run down our cash on hand.La desaceleración de las ventas ha agotado el dinero en efectivo disponible.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. agotarse
Josh left the headlights on and by morning the battery had run down.Josh dejó las luces encendidas y por la mañana la batería se había agotado.
run out(
ruhn
aut
)An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
a. acabarse
He spent his money recklessly, so his savings ran out very quickly.Gastaba el dinero a lo loco, así que se le acabaron los ahorros muy rápidamente.
b. agotarse
I wish I could invite you to dinner, but all of our food ran out.Ojalá pudiera invitarte a cenar, pero se nos agotó toda la comida.
c. vencer (lease or contract)
You'll have to renew your contract with us because it seems to have run out.Tendrás que renovar tu contrato con nosotros porque, por lo visto, ha vencido.
a. quedarse sin
We had to close the café today because we ran out of coffee.Tuvimos que cerrar la cafetería hoy porque nos quedamos sin café.
b. agotarse
Please do your work and stop giving me excuses. I'm beginning to run out of patience.Por favor, haz tu trabajo y déjate de excusas. Se me empieza a agotar la paciencia.
c. acabarse
I'm sorry, but I can't go shopping with you because I've run out of money.Lo siento, pero no puedo ir de compras con ustedes porque se me acabó el dinero.
a. salir corriendo
I ran out of the room because I thought I was going to be sick.Salí corriendo del cuarto porque creí que iba a vomitar.
a. desenrollarse
When we saw the rope running out, we knew that he hadn't reached the end of the tunnel.Al ver la soga desenrollándose, supimos que todavía no había llegado al fondo del túnel.
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
a. ir dando
The climbers ran out the rope for each other as they ascended.Los alpinistas se iban dando la cuerda mientras ascendían.
b. ir soltando
Can you run out the cables and release the tension while I climb?¿Puedes ir soltando los cables y aflojar la tensión mientras subo?
