running on empty

1. 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

That could spell trouble for a Rangers side that may be running on empty.

From BBC

"Was my body just running on empty, and then it said, 'Well, hang on, there's no way we can do this?'" she says.

From BBC

But amateur female athletes who train intensively can also end up running on empty and seeing their periods stop, or become irregular.

From BBC

Mr Bell has had medical issues this year including very high blood pressure: “It’s got to the stage where I’m running on empty.”

From BBC

Dunne carved his own path, starring in the films “An American Werewolf in London,” “After Hours” and “Johnny Dangerously,” while producing movies that included “Running on Empty.”

From Los Angeles Times