A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

run something down • run something up
run something down —
1
. lower smth. such as a flag: A few
of us created a big diversionary distraction near the main
entrance while two other guys snuck out and ran down the
flag. 2. speak of smth. in a disparaging or critical manner: You
always run my proposals down. You find every reason in the
world not to support them. 3. find smth. after searching: We
now have access to this photograph. Bob ran it down in a
West Point yearbook.
run something up —
1
. raise smth. such as a flag: Just as the
ship came within cannon range, the British ship ran up the
flag of the United States. 2. (of a debt) cause to grow quickly:
My wife had a joint account with her previous husband; before
he left her he ran up a huge overdraft. 3. make smth. such as
clothing, etc. quickly: The sailors ran up a rough shelter and
then searched for food and water.
run something into the ground • run something to
ground
run something into the ground —
1
. treat smth. so badly as to
destroy it: The new owner ran the business into the ground.
He had no set hours, gave bad service, failed to pay his sup-
pliers…. 2. pursue or discuss a topic, etc. too much or too
thoroughly (used showing disapproval): Hopefully, this news
cycle will be short-lived as they are starting to run the story
into the ground.
run something to ground —find smth. after a long search
(also: run something to earth): After searching in many stores,
he finally ran to ground the book he had spent so long looking
for.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase run something aground—(Nautical) cause a vessel to
become stranded at low water: The galleon’s crew purposely ran
the ship aground on Catalina Island to escape the raider.