run out of

Idioms  

1. Exhaust a supply or quantity of, as in We're about to run out of coffee and sugar. This expression, dating from about 1700, can be used both literally and figuratively. Thus run out of gas may mean one no longer has any fuel, but it has also acquired the figurative sense of exhausting a supply of energy, enthusiasm, or support, and hence causing some activity to come to a halt. For example, After running ten laps I ran out of gas and had to rest to catch my breath, or The economic recovery seems to have run out of gas. On the other hand, run out of steam, originally alluding to a steam engine, today is used only figuratively to indicate a depletion of energy of any kind.

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Example Sentences

But on Friday they conceded Hazlewood had "run out of time" to be fit for the event which begins in India and Sri Lanka on Saturday.

From Barron's

"Another problem with today's robots is they rapidly run out of batteries," adds Jenny Read, programme director in robot dexterity at Aria, a technology funding agency.

From BBC

Oil experts say Cuba could run out of oil in a matter of weeks, bringing the island’s economy to a stop, from public transport to hospitals, schools and factories.

From The Wall Street Journal

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned last Friday that the world body is on the brink of financial collapse and could run out of cash by July, as he urged countries to pay their dues.

From Barron's

Part of me wants to run out of the office, forget about apology notes and class.

From Literature

Related Words

• absorb
• deplete
• devour
• dominate
• drain
• eat up
• employ
• exhaust
• expend
• obsess
• preoccupy
• spend
• waste