run out of steam

/rʌn aʊt əv stiːm/◆idiom

lose energy or motivation

After working on the project for hours, she ran out of steam and decided to take a break.

She lost her energy and motivation to continue working.

◆ What It Really Means

to lose energy, motivation, or enthusiasm for an activity

¶ Literal Meaning

to exhaust the steam power of an engine

Literal Breakdown

run outto deplete a resource completely+of steamthe power source of a steam engine

◇ Mental Image

A metaphor comparing a person's energy and motivation to the steam powering an engine. When the steam runs out, the engine stops working, just as a person stops when they lose their energy or motivation.

◈ When to Use

Imagine someone starting a project with great enthusiasm but gradually slowing down until they stop entirely. This idiom captures that moment when their energy or motivation is completely gone.

◉ Cultural Note

The idiom reflects the historical importance of steam power during the Industrial Revolution, when machines relied entirely on steam. The metaphor has since been applied to human energy and motivation, showing how language evolves to describe abstract concepts through familiar physical processes.

informal

to lose energy, motivation, or enthusiasm for something

The team ran out of steam halfway through the marathon and finished last.

The team lost their energy and motivation during the race.

I wanted to finish the book, but I ran out of steam after the first chapter.

I lost interest and energy to continue reading the book.

Commonly used in personal, work, or sports contexts to describe a decline in effort or enthusiasm.

Collocations

run out of steam quicklylose energy or motivation rapidlycompletely run out of steamcompletely lose energy or motivation

Synonyms

lose steam hit a wall burn out wear out peter out

Antonyms

gain steam keep going stay motivated

Related Phrases

run out of gasidiom

to lose energy or motivation, similar to 'run out of steam'

hit the wallidiom

to reach a point of extreme exhaustion or difficulty

Pro Tip

Context matters

Use 'run out of steam' for temporary losses of energy or motivation, not for long-term exhaustion. For permanent burnout, consider 'burn out' instead.

Gold Rule

Idiom usage

Avoid using 'run out of steam' literally (e.g., a train running out of steam). It is always used figuratively to describe a person's loss of energy or motivation.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the 19th century, when steam engines were a primary source of power. When a steam engine ran out of steam, it lost its power and stopped working. The metaphorical use emerged to describe a person losing their energy or motivation.

Usage Notes

This idiom is typically used in informal contexts to describe a temporary or sudden loss of energy or enthusiasm. It does not imply permanent exhaustion or burnout.

Word Breakdown

run out

to exhaust or deplete a resource

phrasal verb

of steam

energy or motivation metaphorically likened to steam power

prepositional phrase

English Dictionary

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