running on empty

Idioms

At the end of one's resources, out of money, as in I don't know how much longer we can live this way—we're running on empty with no jobs in sight. This idiom refers to a car running when the gas gauge indicates it is out of fuel. [Second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Barrelates and classical Pilates for when you’re running on empty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 14, 2026

"I had been running on empty for so long - I didn't realise," Lucy says.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025

It continued at Tottenham when Newcastle carried all the appearance of a team running on empty just when they need to be energised.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2023

"When sleep deprive yourself over a long period of time, chronically, not only are you running on empty, you're also keeping the stress hormones and the stress levels in your brain high."

From Salon • Sep. 3, 2023

Damani is a driver running on empty and veering out of control.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023