Meaning trap
run through
pervade or characterize
To be present in or characteristic of every part of something, especially in a way that is abstract, such as an idea, feeling, or quality that influences or defines the whole.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To be present in or characteristic of every part of something, especially in a way that is abstract, such as an idea, feeling, or quality that influences or defines the whole.
'run through' also has the more basic meaning 'practice or rehearse'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- A sense of optimism runs through the entire report, despite the challenges outlined.figurative
- A recurring theme of resilience runs through much of the literature produced during times of crisis, reflecting the collective mindset of the era.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: run through something (abstract subject)
WrongThe same theme runs across the novel.
RightThe same theme runs through the novel.
A theme 'runs THROUGH' something — not 'across'.
Patternrun through something (abstract subject)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Run through' naturally describes a theme present throughout; 'permeate the narrative' is heavily literary.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
run through + wholethe bookher workthe speecheverything
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense ('practice or rehearse') and the B2 sense ('use up quickly'), this C2 sense is figurative and refers to an abstract quality, idea, or theme that is present throughout something, such as a report, a conversation, or a culture.
Related
- run through (practice or rehearse) — 'run through' also has the more basic meaning 'practice or rehearse'; this is the advanced sense.