run out of work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "run out of work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has no more tasks or assignments to complete. Example: "After finishing the last project, I realized I had run out of work for the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Have we run out of work?

The Guardian - Money

"That's why we'll never run out of work.

The New York Times - Books

Devil: But if you run out of work, what are you going to do?

The New York Times

There is so much that needs doing that we will never run out of work to restore America.

The New York Times

Lockheed's F-16 assembly lines in America and Turkey will run out of work by the turn of the century unless new customers are found.

The Economist

"As an industry, computers and technology are only going to become a bigger part of everyday life, so we are not going to run out of work.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Running out of work, on the brink of financial collapse and always coming runner-up in competitions?

The Guardian - Arts

Running out of steam works both ways.

The Guardian - Sport

The company admitted it would soon have run out of working capital, and without raising money through the disposals, would have gone into administration.

The Guardian - Business

Many more retailers are expected to follow suit as they run out of working capital or are unable to refinance their debt.

The New York Times - Tech

General Electric may be "dead paper," but General Motors could run out of working capital after two bad years, back-to-back.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "run out of work", consider the context. Is it a temporary lull or a long-term situation? Adjust your language to reflect the appropriate level of concern or optimism.

Common error

Avoid using "run out of work" to describe temporary breaks or short holidays. The phrase implies a more significant or potentially lasting lack of employment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "run out of work" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating a state of depletion or exhaustion of available tasks or employment. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "run out of work" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a situation where tasks or employment opportunities have been depleted. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It typically conveys a neutral to concerned tone, often implying potential joblessness or the need for new opportunities. While applicable across various contexts, it's crucial to consider whether it is a temporary lull or a lasting issue. Alternatives include "exhausted job opportunities" or "lacking projects", each with slightly different shades of meaning. The most frequent sources of this expression are News & Media and Formal & Business, suggesting its relevance in discussing economic and professional landscapes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished all tasks

Highlights the completion of assigned duties, leaving nothing further to do.

lacking projects

Specifically refers to a deficiency in ongoing or upcoming projects.

depleted of assignments

Focuses on the depletion of specific tasks or projects rather than the general availability of work.

exhausted job opportunities

Implies that all available job openings have been used up.

reached the end of employment

More formally suggests the termination or completion of a job or period of employment.

out of a job

A direct and common way to express unemployment or job loss.

no longer employed

Indicates a state of unemployment, with a stronger emphasis on the absence of a job.

between jobs

Suggests a temporary state of unemployment while seeking new opportunities.

suffered job loss

Highlights the impact of losing one's employment. Stronger nuance related to emotional or financial impacts.

at leisure

Focuses on available free time when work has ended, offering a more positive connotation than joblessness.

FAQs

What does "run out of work" mean?

To "run out of work" means to have no more tasks, projects, or assignments to complete in one's job or profession, potentially leading to unemployment or the need to seek new opportunities.

What can I say instead of "run out of work"?

You can use alternatives like "exhausted job opportunities", "lacking projects", or "finished all tasks" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "ran out of work"?

Yes, "ran out of work" is the past tense of "run out of work" and is grammatically correct when describing a past situation where someone had no more work to do.

How does "run out of work" differ from "out of a job"?

"Run out of work" often suggests a gradual depletion of tasks or projects leading to potential unemployment, while "out of a job" implies a more immediate and direct state of unemployment.