Is it natural to use the phrase run something by someone in the sense of passing information on to someone? For example:
You can give me a list of everything you want to buy and I'll run it by Kate so that she can pick it up on her way home.
I'm aware that run something by someone is usually used in the sense of telling something to someone to get their opinion, but it seems I've heard it used in the sense of just passing on information.
If the way I used it in the sentence doesn't sound natural, what would you use instead?
Best Answer
Nah, I think your original idea is correct - to "run something by" someone is to get their opinion, reaction or permission. I don't know where you've heard it as a bare transfer of information, but that seems wrong. There's always the implication that you want a response from the person who you're running something by.
There are many options to express the transfer of information, many of which I'm sure you're aware of: tell someone, let someone know, inform someone (a more formal option), or, as you suggested, "pass on" information to someone (where there is an initial source of the information that is not you).