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be running on empty

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be running on empty

To continue to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on empty at this point. We were running on empty by the time our team made it to the championship round.

See also: empty, on, running

be running on empty

  (informal)

1. to continue to work and be active when you have no energy left I get the impression he's been running on empty for months now. A holiday will do him good.

2. (American & Australian) if a person or an organization is running on empty, they have no new ideas or are not as effective as they were before The fund-raising campaign was running on empty after ten years under the same leader.

See also: empty, on, running