give someone a run-down—(coll.) give a person a brief survey of facts (also: give someone a run-through):
- After she gave me a rundown of her “typical day,” it was apparent why she was exhausted.
Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase run it down to someone—(U.S. sl.) describe or explain a situation; tell a person the whole truth about smth.:
- I tried to figure out the best way to run it down to this girl that they didn’t have to live in this town.
run someone down—
1. (also: run someone over) knock smb. to the ground with a vehicle (usually Passive):
- He was run down by a vehicle operated by another member of the staff.
2. speak of a person in a disparaging or critical manner:
- I wish you’d stop running me down all the time. I resent it, and I won’t stand for it.
3. find or capture smb. after a long search or chase:
- The airport police finally ran him down at the far end of the Lost Luggage hangar.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the adjectival phrase run down—exhausted and weak:
- The doctor said I was completely run down and I need to change my lifestyle.