THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Run out of steam
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To lose the energy, enthusiasm or momentum needed to continue.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- After three hours of editing, I began to run out of steam.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
After three hours of editing, I began to ________.
Show the answer
Run out of steam — To lose the energy, enthusiasm or momentum needed to continue.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Run out of steam” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To lose the energy, enthusiasm or momentum needed to continue.
Compare: After three hours of editing, I began to run out of steam.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use this expression when a person or activity can no longer keep going with the same energy. It suits everyday accounts of work, study or discussion.
More examples in context
- The discussion ran out of steam when nobody had any new suggestions.
- We do not want the volunteer project to run out of steam after its first week.
Usage note
The past form is ran out of steam; the present perfect is has run out of steam. This is figurative in these examples and does not require any actual steam-powered equipment.
A short conversation
A: Shall we draft another section now?
B: I am running out of steam. Could we take a break first?
A: Yes. We can return with fresh attention.
One more practice question
What has happened when a discussion runs out of steam?
A. It has lost the energy or momentum to continue productively.
B. It has become steadily more energetic with new ideas.
Check your answer
A. The expression describes a loss of drive, rather than an increase in energy.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.