ran into the ground
Used until ruined
To run something into the ground is to overuse, overwork, or exhaust it completely.
The phrase applies to equipment worn out through excessive use, topics discussed past the point of interest, or jokes repeated until they lose all humor: He ran that car into the ground before finally buying a new one.
You've made your point—no need to run it into the ground.
- squanderUse up carelessly
- beat a dead horsePursue a pointless argument
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- overworkToil to exhaustion
ruin · run ragged · put through the wringer · destruction · fatigue · hit a wall · run out of steam · drain · exploitation · downfall · collapse · misuse · depletion · defeat · abuse · overstretching · overtaxed · exhaustion
ran into the groundpreserved
Kept from deterioration
maintained · took care of · looked after · kept up · restored
ran into the groundconserved
Kept from being used up
sustained · husbanded · rationed · stretched out · stewarded
ran into the groundbuilt up
Increased through accumulation
turned around · revitalized · grew · developed · strengthened
running, into, ground, grounds, grounded, grounding, groundless, underground, groundwork