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run into the ground

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run something into the ground

1. to cause something to become less successful Unless she gets some help, she will probably run her business into the ground.

2. to use something so much that it does not work any more I gave that car to my son and he ran it into the ground. It was a funny joke the first time he told it, but he ran it into the ground.

See also: ground, run

run yourself into the ground

to do so much you become unable to do anything well He'll run himself into the ground if he keeps working at this pace.

Usage notes: also used with other verbs: I tend to work myself into the ground.

See also: ground, run

run into the ground

  (British & Australian)

if something such as an activity or a plan runs into the ground, it fails The talks ran into the ground because the ceasefire was broken.

See also: ground, run

run something into the ground

to treat something so badly or use something so much that you destroy it I loaned her my car for 6 months and she ran it into the ground.

See also: ground, run

run into the ground

1. Pursue a topic until it has been thoroughly discussed or exhausted, as in They've run the abortion issue into the ground.

2. Ruin or destroy, as in During her brief time as chief executive Marjorie just about ran the company into the ground . Both usages allude to pushing something so far that it is, in effect, buried. [Early 1800s]

See also: ground, run