run its course

1. Proceed to its logical or natural conclusion, as in The doctor said the cold would probably run its course within a week. This idiom employs course in the sense of “an onward movement in a particular path.” [Second half of 1500s]

Example Sentences

"Ultimately, the legal process will run its course in court, and in time we hope to arrive at a just and fair resolution," he said.

From BBC

Loosely inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s “Vineland,” the film mostly borrows vibes: the struggle of how to move forward when it feels your path has run its course.

From Los Angeles Times

When it had run its course, “Springer” was also a liability, linked to a murder case that becomes the narrative focus of the documentary’s second hour and blamed for another man’s suicide.

From Salon

When he felt like a trend had run its course, he’d simply stop carrying the product — regardless of whether it was still selling.

From Los Angeles Times

“Junkspace is what remains after modernization has run its course,” Koolhaas wrote.

From Salon

Related Words

• break 
• cease 
• close 
• drop 
• end 
• halt 
• hold 
• kill 
• pause 
• put an end to 
• quit 
• stall 
• stand 
• stay