run a business
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Literalmente: to move quickly a business
Use this to describe managing or leading a company, emphasizing active control and daily responsibility.
Em 15 segundos
- Being the person in charge of a company's operations.
- Managing daily tasks, staff, and finances for a shop.
- Taking full responsibility for a professional organization's success.
Significado
This phrase means you are the person in charge of a company or shop. You handle the daily tasks, make decisions, and keep everything moving forward.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Meeting a new neighbor
I run a small landscaping business in the summer.
I manage a small landscaping business in the summer.
A job interview
I ran a business with ten employees for five years.
I managed a business with ten employees for five years.
Texting a friend about being busy
Sorry I missed your call, running a business is exhausting!
Sorry I missed your call, managing a business is tiring!
Contexto cultural
The phrase reflects the Western value of individual entrepreneurship and the 'self-made' success story. It became widely popular during the industrial revolution when managing complex machinery was compared to managing a company. Today, it carries a sense of prestige and personal agency.
Ownership vs. Management
You can 'own' a business without 'running' it. If you 'run' it, you are the one doing the work every day!
Don't use 'Lead'
While 'lead a business' is okay, 'run a business' is much more common in daily English. 'Lead' sounds a bit too dramatic for a small shop.
Em 15 segundos
- Being the person in charge of a company's operations.
- Managing daily tasks, staff, and finances for a shop.
- Taking full responsibility for a professional organization's success.
What It Means
To run a business means you are the boss or the manager. It is not about physically running with your legs! It means you control the operations. You pay the bills, hire people, and solve problems. If the shop opens on time, it is because you are running it well. It implies responsibility and leadership.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to describe your job or someone else's role. You can say I run a small bakery or She runs a tech empire. It works for tiny lemonade stands or massive corporations. Use it when you want to sound capable and in control. It focuses on the action of managing rather than just owning.
When To Use It
Use it in job interviews to show your experience. Use it when meeting new people at a party. It is perfect for LinkedIn profiles or casual coffee chats. If someone asks, "What do you do?", this is a great answer. It sounds more active and energetic than just saying "I am a manager."
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you are just an employee with no authority. If you just work at a desk, you do not run the business. Also, avoid it for short, one-time tasks. You do not run a business for a weekend garage sale. That is usually just "having a sale." Don't use it for hobbies that don't make money either.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, running a business is often seen as the "American Dream." It represents independence and hard work. People take great pride in saying they run something. It suggests you are a leader in your community. The word run here comes from the idea of keeping a machine moving smoothly.
Common Variations
You might hear people say run the show or run the shop. If someone is doing a bad job, they might run it into the ground. If they are very successful, they are running a tight ship. All these variations use the idea of movement to describe management. It makes the work sound dynamic and exciting!
Notas de uso
This is a highly versatile, neutral collocation. It is safe for almost any context, though in high-level corporate legal documents, you might see 'operate' instead.
Ownership vs. Management
You can 'own' a business without 'running' it. If you 'run' it, you are the one doing the work every day!
Don't use 'Lead'
While 'lead a business' is okay, 'run a business' is much more common in daily English. 'Lead' sounds a bit too dramatic for a small shop.
The 'Run' Secret
In English, we use 'run' for things that have a flow, like 'run a program' or 'water is running'. It implies the business is a living, moving thing.
Exemplos
6I run a small landscaping business in the summer.
I manage a small landscaping business in the summer.
A friendly way to describe your occupation.
I ran a business with ten employees for five years.
I managed a business with ten employees for five years.
Shows leadership experience and professional history.
Sorry I missed your call, running a business is exhausting!
Sorry I missed your call, managing a business is tiring!
Casual way to explain why you are unavailable.
I can run a business, but I can't run a vacuum cleaner!
I can manage a company, but I can't use a vacuum!
Uses the double meaning of 'run' for humor.
My grandfather ran this business until he was eighty.
My grandfather managed this business until he was eighty.
Conveys respect and a sense of history.
They have no idea how to run a business properly.
They don't know how to manage a company correctly.
Expresses frustration with poor management.
Teste-se
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase.
It takes a lot of courage to ___ a business on your own.
The standard collocation for managing a company is to 'run' a business.
Identify the correct context for this phrase.
She is the CEO, so she ___ the entire business.
We use the third-person singular 'runs' for a current state or habit.
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Recursos visuais
Formality of 'Run a Business'
Talking to friends about your side hustle.
I run a little Etsy shop.
Standard professional description.
He runs a local grocery store.
Used in reports or high-level meetings.
The CEO runs the business with efficiency.
Where to use 'Run a Business'
Networking
I run a consultancy.
Family Talk
Dad runs the farm.
Complaining
Who runs this place?
Success
She runs a global brand.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasUsually, yes, but not always. You can run a business as a hired manager while someone else owns the shares.
They are very similar, but run sounds more all-encompassing. Managing often feels like a specific job title, while running feels like you are the ultimate boss.
Yes, run a company is perfectly natural and used exactly the same way as run a business.
It is okay, but for a resume, words like operated, managed, or directed might sound slightly more professional.
Yes, you can say run a non-profit or run a charity. It applies to any organized group.
This means to manage a business so poorly that it fails or goes bankrupt. For example, He ran the family business into the ground.
It is neutral. It is safe to use with your boss, your friends, or a stranger.
Yes, using the continuous form running emphasizes that you are currently in the middle of the process.
There isn't a direct opposite phrase, but you might say you are working for a business or closing down a business.
Yes! You can say run a household, which means managing the chores, bills, and family schedule.
Frases relacionadas
Run the show
To be the person in charge of a situation or organization.
Call the shots
To make the important decisions.
Start a business
To begin a new commercial organization.
In charge of
Having the responsibility for something.
Mind the store
To look after things while the main boss is away.
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