Run out of steam

Definitions

• to become exhausted or lose energy
  To describe a person or group that has used up all of their physical or mental energy and can no longer continue with the task at hand.

• to lose effectiveness or momentum
  To describe a situation or effort that has reached a point where it is no longer successful or productive, often due to a lack of resources or motivation.

Examples of Run out of steam

• After working on a project for several weeks, Jane felt like she had run out of steam. She couldn't seem to come up with any new ideas or solutions to the problems she was facing.

  The idiom "run out of steam" is used to describe a situation where someone or something has lost the energy, enthusiasm, or momentum needed to continue. In this example, Jane had been working on a project for a while, but she had exhausted all of her ideas and resources, leaving her feeling drained and uninspired.EXAMPLE 2: The sales team had been working hard for months, but they hit a wall and ran out of steam. They couldn't seem to close any more deals, and their morale began to suffer.EXPLANATION: In this example, the sales team had been working hard for a long time, but they had reached a point where they couldn't sustain their efforts any longer. They had exhausted all of their resources and ideas, leaving them feeling exhausted and uninspired.EXAMPLE 3: The athlete trained for months, but during the competition, she ran out of steam. She couldn't keep up with the other competitors and eventually fell behind.EXPLANATION: In this example, the athlete had prepared for the competition for a long time, but during the event, she ran out of energy and couldn't maintain her performance. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as overtraining, lack of nutrition, or simply running out of steam.EXAMPLE 4: The band had been touring for weeks, but they finally hit a city where they ran out of steam. The crowd was small, and the energy in the room was lacking.EXPLANATION: In this example, the band had been on tour for a while, but they reached a point where they couldn't sustain their energy and enthusiasm. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as exhaustion, lack of sleep, or simply being in a city where the audience wasn't particularly enthusiastic.EXAMPLE 5: The company had been growing rapidly, but they hit a wall and ran out of steam. They couldn't seem to expand any further, and their growth began to stall.EXPLANATION: In this example, the company had been experiencing rapid growth, but they reached a point where they couldn't sustain their momentum. This could be due to a variety of factors, such as competition, lack of resources, or simply running out of steam.

Conclusion

The idiom "run out of steam" is used to describe both a physical and mental state of exhaustion, as well as a loss of effectiveness or momentum. It conveys the idea of reaching a point where one can no longer continue with a task or project, whether due to a lack of energy or resources.

Origin of "Run out of steam"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, when steam power was a common source of energy for machines. When a steam engine ran out of steam, it would come to a stop and could no longer function. This concept was then applied to describe a person or group who had used up all of their energy and could no longer continue.

Another possible origin could be from the sport of steamboat racing in the mid-1800s, where boats would compete in races using steam power. If a boat ran out of fuel or steam, it would lose momentum and fall behind in the race. This could have influenced the use of the idiom to describe a loss of effectiveness or momentum.