Burn Out – Meaning and Examples
Imagine your friend says, “I worked 70 hours this week—I’m totally burned out.” She doesn’t mean fire; she means empty, tired, and done. The phrase burn out is a common way to describe extreme tiredness or sudden failure, and you’ll hear it at work, school, and even about car engines.
What Does “Burn Out” Mean?
Burn out means to become very tired, lose energy, or stop working because of overuse.
Think of a candle: if it burns too long, only melted wax is left.
It’s not about real fire—just exhaustion or breakdown.
When to Use It
- Talk about people: feeling empty after too much work or study.
- Talk about machines: an engine or bulb that suddenly dies.
- Give advice: warn friends to rest before they crash.
The idiom is neutral; use it in casual, work, or school chats.
Example Sentences
- She burned out after three night shifts in a row.
- My laptop’s fan burned out, so it overheats now.
- Don’t study all night—you’ll burn out before the exam.
- The light bulb finally burned out; we need a new one.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “You look exhausted.”
Jamie: “Yeah, I burned out finishing the report. I need a real break.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t add “from” when you use the past form.
- ❌ Don’t say: “I burned out from work.” (extra word)
- ✅ Do say: “I burned out at work.” or “Work burned me out.”
Practice Tip
Tonight, tell someone: “If I don’t rest, I’ll burn out.” Hear how natural it feels—and then take that break!
Final Note
Now you can use burn out to talk about stress, tiredness, or broken machines. Drop it into your next conversation and sound like a native speaker!