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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

run on fumes en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. To operate a vehicle that is low on fuel.
    • We were running on fumes by the time we arrived, but we made it to the next gas station.
  2. (broadly, figuratively) To operate with few resources, or be physically or emotionally overworked.
    • The organization had been running on fumes for months, so it's not surprising that they closed their doors.
    • Near-synonyms: run on empty, run out of steam

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
ran on fumes Tense=Past lexicographic
running on fumes Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
run on fumes Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
runs on fumes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Coordinates

run on empty

Deriveds

fume date

Relateds

vaporware · smell of an oily rag

Synonyms

run out of steam · run on empty