run something into the ground
run (oneself or something) into the ground
1. To work oneself to the point of illness or exhaustion. If you keep working 80-hour weeks, you'll run yourself into the ground sooner than later.
2. To overuse or poorly maintain something, resulting in its destruction or loss of functionality. If you would just remember to get your oil changed, you wouldn't keep running your cars into the ground.
3. To continue to discuss or address something—especially an issue or topic—that is no longer of any use or relevance. We've all moved on from that problem, so there's no use running it into the ground.
See also: ground, run
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
run something into the ground
If you run something into the ground, you use it continuously without looking after it, until it is spoilt or destroyed. They didn't take care of the vehicle. They just ran it into the ground. Britain's public housing has been run into the ground over the last few decades.
See also: ground, run, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
run somebody/something into the ˈground
use something so much that it breaks; make somebody work so hard that they are no longer able to work: In just one year, she managed to run her new car into the ground. These children are running me into the ground.See also: ground, run, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- keep (someone or something) in sight
- keep in sight
- keep sight of
- keep sight of (someone or something)
- keep sight of somebody/something
- wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
- wash hands of
- wash your hands of
- wash your hands of somebody/something
- wash your hands of something/someone