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fume

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be running on fumes

To be continuing to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on fumes at this point. We were running on fumes by the time our team made it to the championship round.

See also: fume, on, running

run on fumes

1. To be especially ineffectual, insubstantial, or unsuccessful. The high production value means that the film is visually stunning, but no amount of aesthetic beauty can save a film whose paper-thin plot runs on fumes from start to finish. The former president promised quite a lot in his campaign speeches, but his administration ran on fumes throughout his time in the White House.

2. To continue to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left. (Usually used in the continuous tense.) I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on fumes at this point. We were running on fumes by the time our team made it to the championship round.

See also: fume, on, run

fume about someone or something

 and fume over someone or something

to be very angry about someone or something. She was just fuming over her broken vase. She was still fuming about Larry the next morning.

See also: fume

fume at someone

Fig. to rage at someone. She was really fuming at Sam, who had broken her table leg.

See also: fume

running on fumes

continuing to do something when you have almost no energy left After two straight games against top teams, the Tigers were running on fumes and lost on Saturday night.

See also: fume, on, running