Question of the Day #806

At the same time that sustainability advocates may be running on fumes, the scale of the threats to the planet exceeds the pace of solutions proliferating to address them, and this gap is only getting wider.

From the 3rd paragraph of this article at Green Biz.

  上記の文で、be running on fumesの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "be running on fumes" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
アメリカでは、このイディオムをかなり聞くのですが、なぜか英辞郎・Weblio等に和訳はありません。したがって、The Free Dictionaryの定義を訳します。

熱意・エネルギー・資源がほとんどまたは全くない状態で働き続けること

このイディオムのfumesとは、ガソリン等の揮発油の揮発したガスのことです。
一見限られた状況でしか使用できないと思いがちですが、かなり多くの場面で使うことができます。  

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To be continuing to operate with no or very little enthusiasm, energy, or resources left.

 

Examples

• She is determined to play in today's game, even if she is running on fumes by the end of it.
• There were times in my life in growing my business and managing my family that I was running on fumes.(Forbes Magazine)
• He plays a struggling writer whose self-confidence is running on fumes.
• I've been painting the house for four hours every night after work, and I am seriously running on fumes at this point.
• This project has been running on fumes. Its better if we close it.

 

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