run into the ground
Related to run into the ground: without a hitch
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 into the ground
1. Pursue a topic until it has been thoroughly discussed or exhausted, as in They've run the abortion issue into the ground.
2. Ruin or destroy, as in During her brief time as chief executive Marjorie just about ran the company into the ground . Both usages allude to pushing something so far that it is, in effect, buried. [Early 1800s]
See also: ground, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
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