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"Run over" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "atropellar", and "run down" is a transitive verb phrase which is also often translated as "atropellar". Learn more about the difference between "run over" and "run down" below.
run over(
ruhn
o
-
vuhr
)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
That car didn't stop at the lights. He almost ran me over!Ese auto no paró en el semáforo. ¡Por poco me atropella!
b. recorrer con (one's eyes or fingers)
Pensive, Ann ran her fingers over the piano keyboard.Ann, pensativa, recorrió el teclado del piano con los dedos.
3. (to review)
a. repasar
Today we'll quickly run over what we did in last week's class, then continue.Hoy repasaremos rápidamente lo que hicimos en la clase de la semana anterior, luego continuaremos.
b. leer
He started assembling the machine without running over the instructions.Empezó a montar la máquina sin leer las instrucciones.
c. leer por encima
She ran over the letter I handed her, then put it on her desk.Leyó por encima la carta que le entregué, y la puso sobre su escritorio.
d. echar un vistazo a
I don't know when I'm going to get a chance to run over the report she gave me.No sé cuándo voy a tener la oportunidad de echarle un vistazo al informe que me entregó.
a. ensayar
I think we need to run over that piece once more before the concert.Creo que deberíamos ensayar esa pieza una vez más antes del concierto.
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. derramarse
I put the milk on to heat, but I forgot it and it ran over.Puse la leche a calentar, pero se me olvidó y se derramó.
b. rebosar
Torrential rains caused the water to run over and flood the damn surroundings.Las lluvias torrenciales hicieron que el agua rebosara e inundara los alrededores de la presa.
c. desbordarse
Turn the faucet off. The bathtub is running over!Cierra el grifo. ¡Se está desbordando la bañera!
a. durar más de lo previsto (time)
The meeting ran over and I missed my train.La reunión duró más de lo previsto y perdí mi tren.
b. exceder el límite de palabras (word limit)
If the report runs over, what do I do? - You'll have to cut the introduction.Si el reporte excede el límite de palabras, ¿qué hago? - Tendrás que quitar la introducción.
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.
