run out of gas

run out of gas

1. Literally, to near the end of one's supply of gas in a car or other vehicle. I'm running out of gas, so we need to stop before we get on the highway.

2. By extension, to lose one's energy, motivation, or enthusiasm to continue doing something. After spending hours working on this project, I'm running out of gas—can we take a break?

See also: gas, of, out, run

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

run out of gas

mainly AMERICAN

If you run out of gas, you suddenly feel tired and lose energy or interest in what you are doing, and so you stop or fail. Miller, who missed second place by four seconds, said she `ran out of gas' close to the finish. The government's plan has run out of gas. Compare with run out of steam. Note: The image here is of a car stopping because it has run out of gas, or, in British English, petrol.

See also: gas, of, out, run

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

run out of gas

run out of energy; lose momentum. North American informal

See also: gas, of, out, run

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

run out of gas

in. to lose momentum or interest. I hope I don’t run out of gas before I finish what I set out to do.

See also: gas, of, out, run

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.