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Scarper vs Runaway - What's the difference?

scarper | runaway |

As a verb scarper

is to run away; to flee; to escape.

As a noun runaway is

a person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes limitations.

scarper

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (British, slang) To run away; to flee; to escape.
  • * 1904 , John Coleman, Fifty years of an actors? life , Volume 1, page 54,
  • Out went the lights, as he continued, "That sneak Whiskers have just blown the gaff to old Slow-Coach, and he'll be here in two two's to give you beans — so scarper', laddies — ' scarper ! "
  • * 2001 , Ardal O'Hanlon, Knick Knack Paddy Whack , page 7,
  • The tramps scarpered', the street-traders pushing prams '''scarpered''', half of Dublin ' scarpered as if they all had something to hide.
  • * 2007 , , [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2132043,00.html]
  • Helm writes: 'As if she were some street criminal, ready to scarper , Ruth's home was swooped upon by [Assistant Commissioner John] Yates's men and she was forced to dress in the presence of a female police officer.

    Anagrams

    * *

    runaway

    English

    Alternative forms

    * run-away

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person or animal that runs away or has run away; a person, animal, or organization that escapes limitations.
  • Runaway children are vulnerable to criminal exploitation.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Thou runaway , thou coward, art thou fled?
  • *
  • A train that is out of control.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • (usually attributive) An object or process that is out of control or out of equilibrium.
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  • *
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  • The act of running away, especially of a horse or teams.
  • There was a runaway yesterday.
  • An overwhelming victory.
  • The home side won in a runaway .

    Usage notes

    This word is frequently used attributively, as in "runaway X" to mean "an X which has run away" or "an X which is out of control".