run in

run in (plural run ins)

1. Alternative spelling of run-in

run in

1. (transitive, informal) To arrest.

   The guys who robbed the bank last week have finally been run in.

2. (transitive, Britain) To use new machinery at less than full speed, preventing damage.

   I have to drive slowly for the first 1,000 miles to run the engine in.

3. (figuratively) To start a new regime slowly.

   Synonym: phase in

4. (rugby) To score (a try)
   • 2011 September 16, Ben Dirs, “Rugby World Cup 2011: New Zealand 83-7 Japan”, in BBC Sport‎:

     Toeava went over unopposed to stretch his side's lead but Japan got on the scoreboard on 56 minutes, wing Hirotoki Onozawa intercepting an attempted offload from Slade, who had a rather flaky game, and running in from the All Blacks' 10m line.

• The "arrest" sense is most commonly found in the passive form.

• inrun, inurn