running out of gas
Tank nearing empty
Running out of gas is literally depleting a vehicle's fuel supply: We ran out of gas on the highway.
Figuratively, it means losing energy, momentum, or enthusiasm before completing something: The campaign was running out of gas by October.
The phrase captures that helpless feeling when forward motion simply stops.
- petrolMotor vehicle fuel
- emptyHolding nothing inside
- tankLarge storage vessel
- reserve tankSecondary storage vessel
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
coasting · stranded motorist · needle · diesel · sputter · lethargy · fumes · stagnation · overwork · energy crash · collapse · dead on arrival · gasoline · fuel gauge · depletion · fatigue · losing steam · engine
- car troublesflat tire, dead battery, breakdown, overheating, stalling
- car experiencesdriving, parking, commuting, car wash, road trip
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
running out of gasfull of energy
firing on all cylinders · going strong · second wind · energized · raring to go
running out of gaspicking up steam
Increasing in momentum
on a roll · accelerating · in full swing · ramping up · keeping pace