run thin
idiom
: to become less than the usual, original, or needed number or amount
I'd been waiting almost an hour, and my patience was running thin.
Examples of run thin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, if the 90-day pause period expires, and voters begin to see the tariffs burn a hole in their wallets, their patience may soon run thin.
—
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
As the years go by, ideas can run thin, and finding that perfect gift can be a challenge.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2024
The schedule disruptions are severe enough that staffing is starting to run thin across airlines, while de-icing fluid was also in short supply Tuesday, Harteveldt added.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024
But patience has run thin even in that coalition of fans; since 1999 when Snyder purchased the team, the franchise has reached the playoffs six times, going 160-216-1 in the regular season.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2022
Ownership’s patience has run thin after six years of losing.
—Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2022
But like any love story, the line between romance and obsession can run thin.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2022
The remaining entertainments, even for a man of wealth, run thin.
—Georgia Garvey, chicagotribune.com, 26 Apr. 2021
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Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
As the years go by, ideas can run thin, and finding that perfect gift can be a challenge.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2024
The schedule disruptions are severe enough that staffing is starting to run thin across airlines, while de-icing fluid was also in short supply Tuesday, Harteveldt added.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024
But patience has run thin even in that coalition of fans; since 1999 when Snyder purchased the team, the franchise has reached the playoffs six times, going 160-216-1 in the regular season.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 7 Nov. 2022
Ownership’s patience has run thin after six years of losing.
—Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2022
But like any love story, the line between romance and obsession can run thin.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2022
The remaining entertainments, even for a man of wealth, run thin.
—Georgia Garvey, chicagotribune.com, 26 Apr. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Run thin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20thin. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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