Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) an explanation, a summary, a brief list of the most important facts or points on which to act.

1915		Wodehouse Psmith Journalist (1993) 195: So when de rest of de bunch comes along, I don’t try to give dem de t’run down.
1950		Goldin et al. DAUL 182/2: Rundown. Recapitulation; brief account of what happened.
1955		B. Schulberg On the Waterfront (1964) 145: He and the Doyle girl are getting up a meeting [...] We want a run-down on it.
1964		H. Selby Jr Last Exit to Brooklyn 209: Harry gave them his usual rundown on the strike.
1979		F. Norman Too Many Crooks Spoil the Caper 87: How about a rundown on the synopsis?
1983		C. Knight We Shall Not Die 118: Now, Panca, is time yuh give wi a run-down on how your side of tings goin’.
1986		R.G. Barrett Godson 208: Les gave Eddie a bit of a rundown about Peregrine buying the clothes.
1994		P. Baker Blood Posse 179: I was the one who gave him the run-down on the Tomahawks’ crib.
1999		K. Sampson Powder 137: Radio One were giving a rundown of yesterday’s chart.
2000		S. Maloney Big Ask 210: I killed thezs et and gave him the rundown on my approach to the Save Our Trains candidate.
2004		Guardian G2 4 Mar. 18: I felt obliged to say hello and give him a rundown about what to expect from this place.
2005		E. Weiner Big Boat to Bye-Bye 185: ‘Care to hear the rundown?’.
2011		J.J. DeCeglie Drawing Dead [ebook] I’m gonna give you the rundown as best I can.
2022		K. Noem Not My First Rodeo 116: They gave me the ‘rundown’ on the other members I would be dealing with.