run out of steam: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘run out of steam’ mean?
The idiom run out of steam means to lose energy, motivation, or enthusiasm to continue doing something. It implies that the person or thing involved has exhausted their resources and is no longer able to sustain the same level of effort.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "run the clock down" means to intentionally use up time in order to delay an event or outcome.
The idiom "run someone ragged" means to exhaust or wear someone out completely.
The idiom "run someone off their feet" means to keep someone extremely busy or overwhelmed with work or tasks.
The idiom "run out the clock" means to intentionally waste time or delay the completion of a task or event, often to secure a favorable outcome or simply to avoid unwanted consequences.
The idiom "run out of town" means forcibly expelling or driving someone away from a place due to dislike or disapproval.
The idiom "run out" means to exhaust the supply of something or to reach the end of a limited resource. It implies that there is no more of that specific thing available.
Run out is an idiom that means to exhaust or deplete the supply of something. It is commonly used to describe a situation where there is no more of a particular item or resource left.
The idiom "run on fumes" means to continue doing something or functioning even though one has little energy, resources, or fuel left.
The idiom "run on empty" means to continue doing something despite having no energy, resources, or motivation left.
The idiom "run on" means to continue speaking without pausing or to continue happening without stopping. It can also refer to a sentence that is too long and lacks proper punctuation.
The Exhausted End
The idiom "run out of steam" is commonly used in American English to describe a situation where someone or something loses energy, power, or momentum, resulting in a decline or cessation of activity. This idiom has its origins in the literal meaning of the word "steam" as a source of power or energy.
During the industrial revolution, steam engines were widely used to power machines and locomotives. These engines would often run out of steam when they had used up all the fuel or water necessary to produce the steam that powered them. This literal meaning of running out of steam evolved into the figurative sense of losing energy or momentum.
When it comes to everyday language, the idiom "run out of steam" can be applied to various situations. For instance, a person might say they have run out of steam when they feel exhausted or lacking the energy to complete a task. This idiom can also be used to describe a project, plan, or movement that loses momentum or comes to a halt due to a lack of resources, interest, or motivation.
The idiom "run out of steam" is similar in meaning to other idioms such as "lose steam" or "hit a wall." However, each of these idioms may carry slightly different connotations or nuances in usage.
It is worth noting that the idiom "run out of steam" has a close relationship with the idiom "run out." The phrase "run out" can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has exhausted a supply or resource. When someone or something runs out of steam, it means they have exhausted their energy, power, or momentum.
Another related idiom is "out of gas." This expression is often used to describe a situation where someone or something has completely lost their energy, enthusiasm, or ability to continue. Just like running out of steam, running out of gas signifies a decline or cessation of activity due to a lack of energy or motivation.
These idioms, "run out" and "out of gas," share a similar concept to running out of steam. They all indicate a loss of energy or momentum, resulting in a decline or halt in activity. However, the specific usage and connotations of these idioms may vary slightly.
The idiom "run out of steam" is deeply rooted in the literal meaning of steam power from the industrial revolution. Its figurative usage emerged as a metaphorical expression to describe a decline or cessation of activity due to a loss of energy or momentum. This idiom is commonly used in American English and applies to a wide range of contexts, from personal exhaustion to the loss of momentum in various projects or plans. Despite its ubiquity, there remains a sense of fascination and possibility in exploring how this idiom continues to be relevant and evolve in contemporary language.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom *run out of steam* can be used in a sentence:
- After running for 10 miles, I started to run out of steam and had to take a break.
- The team started the match strong, but they ran out of steam in the final minutes and ended up losing.
- She was working on her thesis for hours, but eventually ran out of steam and decided to call it a night.
More "Energy" idioms
