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

Real estate developments stall from time to time as developers run out of money, but rarely do they fail in such a high-profile manner as Oceanwide Plaza, which was supposed to be a glamorous addition to the skyline and center of activity in the bustling sports and entertainment district of downtown’s South Park neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

And we never run out of problems.

From The Wall Street Journal

The large cluster of skaters behind them held back, hoping the two leaders would run out of gas and drift back into the pack before the final sprint.

From Los Angeles Times

Mandarin, who said his family lived on this island for six generations, doesn’t seem concerned about what the group will eat when they run out of the few supplies they brought, including bags of rice and lentils.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Because of the increase in the number of people who need services, we have run out of almost everything," said Tor.

From Barron's

Related Words

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