burn out
Lose all steam
Burn out describes exhaustion from overwork or prolonged stress, leaving someone depleted and unable to continue: After three years of eighty-hour weeks, she finally burned out.
The noun burnout names this state.
Things that burn out also fail by overheating or overuse—a lightbulb burns out, an engine burns out.
A burned-out building has been gutted by fire.
Lose intensity gradually
- waneDecrease gradually
- declineDecrease or refuse
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
- taper offReduce gradually in intensity
ebb · lose steam · cool off · flatline · stall · plateau · diminish · flag
Weariness from prolonged exertion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- drainedEmptied of resources
- spentExhausted or disbursed
wiped · overwhelmed · crashed · fried · empty · running on empty · hitting the wall · breakdown
Pressure, mental or vocal
- grindCrush into particles
- overtimeWork beyond scheduled hours
- deadlineTime limit for completion
- pressureForce upon contact
workaholic · overload · toil · strain · hustle culture · rat race · exploitation · drudgery
Accidental low-resistance path
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- blown fuseOverloaded protective device
- surgeSudden powerful increase
- overheatBecome dangerously warm
fried · malfunction · power surge · capacitor · transformer · wiring · circuit breaker · electrical fire
fade
Lose intensity gradually
taper off · ebb · lose steam · cool off · flatline · stall · plateau · diminish · flag · wind down
fatigue
Weariness from prolonged exertion
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- drainedEmptied of resources
spent · wiped · overwhelmed · crashed · fried · empty · running on empty · hitting the wall · breakdown · collapse
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
pressure · workaholic · overload · toil · strain · hustle culture · rat race · exploitation · drudgery · overexertion
short circuit
Accidental low-resistance path
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- blown fuseOverloaded protective device
- surgeSudden powerful increase
overheat · fried · malfunction · power surge · capacitor · transformer · wiring · circuit breaker · electrical fire · arc
douse
Wet completely, often flames
stifle · suffocate · fade · sputter · expire · dampen · firebreak · char · embers · ash
- energy idiomsfull of beans, running on empty, second wind, fired up, pumped up
- fire idiomsplay with fire, fight fire with fire, fan the flames, add fuel to fire, on fire
- malfunction signscrash, freeze, stall, glitch, bug
- workjob, 9 to 5, jobs, labor, employee
- burnoutemotional exhaustion, exhaustion, exhausted, overwork, chronic fatigue
- fizzle outtaper off, dwindle, wane, die away, ebb
burn outthrive
Flourish with vigor
recharge · energize · flourish · revitalize · rejuvenate
burn outpace oneself
Control one's exertion rate
sustain · find balance · endure · work-life balance · go the distance