empty the tank en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic) To make the utmost effort; to contribute to the absolute limit of one's energy and abilities.
Stewart referenced Springsteen's work ethic and heart: “He empties the tank, every time. He empties that tank for his family, he empties that tank for his art, he empties that tank for his audience and he empties that tank for his country.”
2009 December 30, “Bruce Springsteen Honored at Kennedy Center”, in Rolling Stone, retrieved 19 Jun 2011:“You’ve got to empty the tank,” he said. “You can see the finish line. You know what you have to do.”
2008 September 1, Joe LaPointe, “Martínez Shows Strength in Mets Win Over Marlins”, in New York Times, retrieved 19 Jun 2011:“It's important over the next five games to empty the tank and give all we've got.”
2006 July 5, Tom Withers, “Cleveland scores nine in fifth inning”, in USA Today, retrieved 19 Jun 2011:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| leave nothing in the tank | alternative | lexicographic | |
| empties the tank | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| emptying the tank | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| emptied the tank | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| emptied the tank | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Synonyms
go all out (make the utmost effort) · go for broke (make the utmost effort) · pull out all the stops (make the utmost effort) · give one's all (make the utmost effort)
Translations (6)
it fare del proprio meglio (make the utmost effort) · fr se donner à fond (make the utmost effort) · pl dawać z siebie wszystko (make the utmost effort) · pl dać z siebie wszystko (make the utmost effort) · fi antaa kaikkensa (make the utmost effort) · fi tyhjentää takkinsa (make the utmost effort)