Running on Fumes Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises

The idiom ‘running on fumes’ is an expression that vividly portrays continued effort despite exhaustion, whether physical, mental, or emotional. Just as a car that is almost out of fuel might struggle to move forward, a person who is ‘running on fumes’ is barely keeping themselves going. Mastering this idiom, one of the powerful yet common idioms in the IELTS Speaking test, will enrich your vocabulary and demonstrate fluency, especially during the speaking tasks.

In this blog post, we will explore the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom ‘running on fumes’ and provide examples from the IELTS exam.

Running on Fumes Idiom: Meaning

The idiom ‘running on fumes’ means:

• To continue working, functioning, or surviving even though one has almost no energy, strength, or resources left.
• It highlights the idea of pushing forward despite extreme fatigue or depletion.

Origin of Running on Fumes Idiom

The expression originates from the world of automobiles. When a vehicle is nearly out of gasoline, it can sometimes keep moving for a short distance on the remaining fuel vapors, essentially, ‘on fumes’. Over time, this image was extended metaphorically to describe people who keep going with little or no energy.

The phrase gained popularity in the mid-20th century and is now widely used in both American and British English to emphasize perseverance despite exhaustion.

Running on Fumes Idiom Usage

The running on fumes idiom is frequently used in both casual conversations and professional discussions to describe fatigue, perseverance, or unsustainable effort. 

Given below are some example sentences that show how the ‘running on fumes’ idiom can be used appropriately for a higher IELTS band score. 

• I have to be running on fumes to complete my report for my tutor.
• With the huge amount of homework given by the teacher, students nowadays are running on fumes, which could jeopardise their physical as well as emotional conditions.
• She spent almost a week on the picnic, so she had to be running on fumes at the weekend to finish her homework.
• After staying awake for two nights to finish her dissertation, she was running on fumes during the presentation.
• The company is running on fumes, relying on small loans to keep operations afloat.
• By the end of the marathon, he was clearly running on fumes but refused to quit.
• The project team was running on fumes by the deadline, but they still delivered results.

Running on Fumes Idiom: Synonyms and Related Phrases

The table provided below showcases a collection of the best phrases to use in IELTS Speaking responses when discussing topics related to the idiom 'running on fumes'.

Running on Fumes Idiom: Detailed Usage in IELTS Contexts

Let us explore a few different ways in which the idiom ‘running on fumes’ can be applied effectively across IELTS exam contexts through the sample answers given below.

IELTS Speaking Part 1

• Question: Do you usually stay up late at night?
• Sample Answer: “Yes, quite often, especially when I have deadlines or exams. But the next day, I usually feel like I’m running on fumes. It’s as if I have no real energy left, but I’m still trying to push myself through the day. Honestly, it affects my concentration, and I try not to make it a habit.”

IELTS Speaking Part 2

• Cue Card: Describe a time when you were extremely tired but still had to complete something important.
• Answer Excerpt: “One time, I had to submit my university project after working through the night. By the morning, I was completely exhausted and was running on fumes, but I managed to give my presentation. The idiom perfectly describes how drained I felt while still pushing forward.”

Running on Fumes Idiom: Practice Exercises

The following exercises will help you in developing a better understanding of the idiom, and you will also discover how to correctly use the idiom, 'running on fumes', in the appropriate setting.

1 She was barely managing to continue her work after hours of stress.

2 The football team was exhausted but still playing hard until the last whistle.

3 The old factory is struggling to stay open with limited resources.

4 Which is the incorrect usage of ‘running on fumes’?

A By midnight, the nurses were running on fumes but still cared for patients.

B He was running on fumes after a 10-hour drive.

C She was running on fumes, feeling refreshed after a long sleep.

D The company is running on fumes, barely covering expenses.

5 If someone is ‘running on fumes’, it most likely means:

A They are very energetic.

B They are almost out of energy but still continuing. 

C They are driving a new car.

D They are resting after hard work.

Running on Fumes Idiom: Answer Key for Practice Exercises

In conclusion, the idiom ‘running on fumes’ represents human perseverance in the face of exhaustion. For IELTS learners, this idiom is an excellent addition to demonstrate vocabulary and figurative expression in all speaking tasks. So, practice its usage through IELTS Speaking practice tests, examples, comparisons, and exercises, you can confidently integrate it into your communication.

Useful Links:

• Put Body and Soul into Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises 
• Tough It Out Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises 
• Don’t Spare the Horses Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises 
• Five Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary 
• Top 11 IELTS Vocabulary Books
• Common Idioms to Boost Your IELTS Score – Topic: Fear and frustration