run into the ground
To do or use (something) more than is wanted or needed.
It's all right to borrow my hammer once in a while, but don't run it into the ground.
To win over or defeat (someone) completely.
We lost the game today, but tomorrow we'll run them into the ground.
run into
To mix with; join with.
If the paint brush is too wet, the red paint will run into the white on the house.
This small brook runs into a big river in the valley below.
To add up to; reach; total.
Car repairs can run into a lot of money.
The number of people killed on the highways during holidays runs into hundreds.
A good dictionary may run into several editions.
Bump; crash into; hit.
Joe lost control of his bike and ran into a tree.
The drunk driver was slightly injured when he ran into a telephone pole.
To meet by chance.
I ran into Joe yesterday on Main Street.
It was a shock to run into an old friend from high school recently.
Be affected by; get into.
I ran into trouble on the last problem on the test.
When I ran into a problem while making my model airplane, I asked Uncle Mark for help.
stone wall
brick wall
run into a stone wall
run into a brick wall
Something hard to overcome; an idea or belief that is hard to change.
The students ran into a brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination.
Dick tried to change Father's mind about letting him use the car Saturday night, but he was up against a stone wall.