run dry

present singular third person runs dry · participle present running dry · past ran dry

1. literallyTo become dry; to cease to flow with water.

   Last summer the river ran dry.

2. figurativelyTo run out; to be fully consumed; to expire.

   The beer soon ran dry so we cracked open a bottle of wine.

   5 more examples

   I used to write short stories, but these days my inspiration has run dry.

   They're working forty hours, they got caught in the game / Like junkies runnin' dry / The vulnerability / Like junkies runnin' dry / They're always there on time / Like junkies runnin' dry / They can't be satisfied / Like junkies runnin' dry

   1989, “Junkie's Runnin' Dry”, in Operation Ivy (CD), performed by Operation Ivy, Lookout Records, →OCLC

   There's nothing where he used to lie / My inspiration has run dry

   1997, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, Phil Thornalley, “Torn”, in Left of the Middle, performed by Natalie Imbruglia

   If you are a marketer or an influencer and feel like your idea bank is running dry, then ChatGPT can serve as an excellent tonic to get your creative juices flowing.

   2023 January 19, Zohaib Ahmed, “Here’s how ChatGPT can help you deal with boring tasks so you can focus on things that matter”, in The Indian Express

   The Government confirmed on September 12 that it was in discussions with Alstom over safeguarding around 2,000 jobs at the company's Derby factory. The move comes amid reports that the manufacturer's order book will run dry in early 2024, due to delays to the £2 billion contract for HS2.

   2023 September 20, “Network News: Stop Press”, in RAIL, number 992, page 9