lacking energy or enthusiasm.

He's been running on empty for months now — a vacation will do him good.

The program to build low-cost housing has not attracted much support and is running on empty.

Related vocabulary: on automatic pilot

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of running on empty (= operating a car with almost no fuel)

• get goat
• get going
• get grief
• get groove on
• get hands dirty
• get hands on
• get hands on someone
• get hands on something
• get head around
• get head around something
• get head down
• get hell
• get her claws into
• get her claws into someone
• get hold of
• get hold of someone
• get hold of something
• get hold of the wrong end of the stick
• get hooks into
• get hooks into someone
• get hooks into something
• get hopes up
• get in a lather
• get in a rut
• get in gear