Idiom: To
be running on fumes – to continue to do something or stay awake
when there is almost no energy left to do it.
be running on fumes – to continue to do something or stay awake
when there is almost no energy left to do it.
Context
#1 – Two friends talking
#1 – Two friends talking
Vincent:
Hey, Brandy! Oh my God, you look so tired. Are you OK?
Hey, Brandy! Oh my God, you look so tired. Are you OK?
Brandy:
Not really. I still haven’t finished this paper I have to write for
my English class. I stayed up all night trying to finish it.
Not really. I still haven’t finished this paper I have to write for
my English class. I stayed up all night trying to finish it.
Vincent:
Oh no! Are you almost done?.
Oh no! Are you almost done?.
Brandy:
Yes,
maybe I can finish it if I can stay awake and focus. At this point,
I’m just
running on fumes and
I don’t know how much longer I can do this.
Yes,
maybe I can finish it if I can stay awake and focus. At this point,
I’m just
running on fumes and
I don’t know how much longer I can do this.
Vincent:
Why don’t you have a large cup of coffee? I can help you finish it
right now. I have time.
Why don’t you have a large cup of coffee? I can help you finish it
right now. I have time.
Brandy:
Really?
Thank you so much!
Really?
Thank you so much!
Context
#2 – Talking about a soccer match
#2 – Talking about a soccer match
Selena: That
was such a great match! Both teams were playing so hard and wanted to
win.
was such a great match! Both teams were playing so hard and wanted to
win.
Patricio: I
know. You could tell that the other team, the Sharks, were just
running on fumes at the end. They just didn’t have the strength of
the home team.
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know. You could tell that the other team, the Sharks, were just
running on fumes at the end. They just didn’t have the strength of
the home team.
Selena: Yeah,
I guess so.
They
did look really tired.
I guess so.
They
did look really tired.
Patricio:
Well, I’m glad our team was able to keep going and finally win.
Well, I’m glad our team was able to keep going and finally win.
Meaning: To
be running on fumes means to continue to do something or stay awake
when there is almost no energy left to do it. This is said about a
person or people, but it specifically refers to the
last fumes of
gasoline in an empty tank in a car.
In context 1, Brandy has been up all night writing a paper and is
super tired. However, she still has to finish the paper. She is
running on fumes at this point. In context 2, Selena and Patricio
have just been watching a soccer match and one of the teams looks
really tired. That team was just running on fumes and eventually
lost.
be running on fumes means to continue to do something or stay awake
when there is almost no energy left to do it. This is said about a
person or people, but it specifically refers to the
last fumes of
gasoline in an empty tank in a car.
In context 1, Brandy has been up all night writing a paper and is
super tired. However, she still has to finish the paper. She is
running on fumes at this point. In context 2, Selena and Patricio
have just been watching a soccer match and one of the teams looks
really tired. That team was just running on fumes and eventually
lost.
LSI Team
For over 30 years, Language Systems International has been offering comprehensive exchange experiences, providing high-quality English instruction with a focus on a communicative and student-centered environment. Follow our blog to stay updated on our activities and latest news.
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