burn out

British  

verb

1. to become or cause to become worn out or inoperative as a result of heat or friction

   the clutch burnt out

2. (intr) (of a rocket, jet engine, etc) to cease functioning as a result of exhaustion of the fuel supply

3. (tr; usually passive) to destroy by fire

4. to become or cause to become exhausted through overwork or dissipation

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noun

1. the failure of a mechanical device from excessive heating

2. a total loss of energy and interest and an inability to function effectively, experienced as a result of excessive demands upon one's resources or chronic overwork

burn out Idioms  

1. Stop functioning because something, such as fuel, has been used up. For example, There's nothing wrong with the lamp; the light bulb just burned out . [Late 1300s]

2. be burned out . Lose one's home, place of work, or school as the result of a fire. For example, Hundreds of tenants are burned out every year because of negligent landlords .

3. Also, burn oneself out . Make or become exhausted or disaffected, especially with one's work or schooling. For example, Many young lawyers burn themselves out after a few years of 70-hour weeks . This metaphoric term alludes to a fire going out for lack of new fuel. Robert Southey used it in an 1816 essay: “The spirit of Jacobinism was burnt out in France.” [1970s]

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Example Sentences

But some singles, burned out by fruitless searches for love, are handing control of their dating profiles to the people who keep asking why they aren’t having any luck.

From The Wall Street Journal

“No matter what your situation is — whether you were completely burned out, partially burned, had smoke damage or your mental game has been challenged. We are all in it together.”

From Los Angeles Times

Having a methodical plan and a clear structure can help you get started but she cautions that you can burn out by locking in too much.

From BBC

The agreement says firefighters should “cold-trail charred logs near the fire line with minimal tool scarring” and “consider allowing large logs to burn out.”

From Los Angeles Times

We are burning out the very people holding the care system together.

From MarketWatch