Colors run

Question

Hi everyone,I heard the following the other day:- Don't wash the shirt with the pants because it's off-brand, and the colors tend to run.I didn't know this meaning of "run". I take it to mean that the clothes lose their colors, is that correct?Does it apply only to laundry, and to colors? If not, could you give me a couple of examples for this meaning of "run"?Thank you.H.

Khoff · Accepted Answer

Henry74and the colors tend to run.I didn't know this meaning of "run". I take it to mean that the clothes lose their colors, is that correct?

It doesn't just mean that the clothes lose their color, but that the color will get on everything else. If you wash a red towel with your white underwear and you end up with everything pink, then the red color has run. (You might also hear "the color bleeds.")

Oddly enough, if the colors will not run, the garment can be called "colorfast." (This uses "fast" meaning "secure," not "quick.")

Usually it applies only to dyed garments or fabric when being washed or getting wet. I once had a red canvas bookbag, and when it got wet in the rain the red color "ran" and got all over the books. You might occasionally hear it in a different context -- for instance, if you write "Happy birthday" with red frosting on the surface of a white-frosted cake, you hope the color won't run or bleed into the white. I suppose it might also refer to paint.

Sometimes you might see posters of the American flag with the motto "These colors don't run." It's a play on words -- meaning that America does not back down or retreat.

Henry74 · Answer

Great!
Thank you for the detailed explanation.

H.

Colors run

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