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Glite Dictionary
running on empty

running on empty

3 7.0
Very tired and having no energy or fuel left
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : agotado
  • After a long week at work, I felt like I was running on empty by Friday evening.

So to the extent that I'm really running on empty, that's that's pretty annoying.

Examples

  • I'm running on empty.

    Batman & Robin (1997)

  • And they're now running on empty.

    March of the Dinosaurs (2011)

  • Well, right now, my mind is running on empty.

    Gothika (2003)

  • I guess I was looking for examples of strength because I really felt like I was running on empty in that department.

    Blog text (32)

  • I feel like I'm running on empty.

    Melinda and Melinda (2004)

  • Right now I'm running on empty.

    Cop (1988)

  • - I'm running on empty, Doc.

    Crank: High Voltage (2009)

  • They were running on empty, and I was very much a part of the problem.

    Blog text (19)

  • Because what we have found scientifically is that when you are exhausted and running on empty, you are less empathetic.

  • As physicians, we are perfectly capable of "running on empty" and continuing to see patients long after we are completely drained and exhausted.

    Blog text (23)

Synonyms

exhausted
vsrunning on empty
104 2.0

Very tired and completely used up for a person or thing after using all energy

is broader depletion including supplies and fuel not only physical tiredness
fatigued
vsrunning on empty
13 4.1

Feeling very tired and having no energy

is deeper lack of energy that also empties resources or fuel
washed-out
vsrunning on empty
  • Informal
1 5.1

Being very tired and without energy

is more extreme depletion reaching near total emptiness of energy or supplies
drained
vsrunning on empty
3.4

Feeling very tired with no energy left

is total depletion of energy fuel or resources rather than mild tiredness
short on energy
vsrunning on empty
3.5

Feeling tired and weak

is complete exhaustion with no remaining energy fuel or resources

Antonyms

tankful
1 2.5

The amount of fuel a tank can hold

How Energetic

energetic
93 1.6
rested
1.0
tired
∞ 1.0
running on empty
  • Informal
3 7.0

Surface Forms

running on empty positive

Morphology

running + on + empty

The meaning can be partly derived from 'running' (operating/continuing) and 'empty' (having nothing), so a learner who knows the words could infer someone is functioning despite lacking fuel or energy. However, the expression is a metaphorical transfer from vehicles to people and the prepositional pattern 'on empty' is somewhat idiomatic, so the full sense may not be completely predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Running on empty comes from cars: a car can keep running when the fuel tank is empty, but it has almost no fuel left. So when people use it now, they mean someone is 'having no energy, resources, or fuel left'.