with me, Feifei…

…and me, Roy.

In this programme, we have an expression to

describe when someone is very tired and has

used all their energy. It can also be used

for things when they're out of battery or

fuel. Speaking of which, Roy - you look exhausted!

Thanks, Feifei! Do I look that bad? I do

feel tired though!

Roy, you look like you're running on fumes.

You mean my car has run out of petrol? I usually

say my car is running on fumes when the fuel

needle shows empty, but somehow the

car keeps going!

Yes, the phrase 'running on fumes' does

relate to cars, but we also use it to talk

about people! You look like you have no energy,

so you're running on fumes!

I suppose I am. It must be all the hard work

I'm doing to help people learn English.

Hard work?! I saw you sleeping at your desk

the other day!

Exactly! I was so tired and running on fumes

that I fell asleep!

Hmmm anyway, let's listen to these examples…

He's been working so hard at work recently,

he's running on fumes. I'm worried about

him.

Towards the end of the match, the footballer

said she was running on fumes.

I was running on fumes yesterday. I couldn't

concentrate in the meeting.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English. We're talking about the expression

'running on fumes', which describes a

situation where you have no energy, but you

keep going. So why else are you so tired?

Well, I have a baby and he cries a lot. I

spend all night looking after him, so I have

no energy.

Ahhh, that makes sense. Why didn't you call

me to say you you'd be in work later?

Well my phone was running out of battery.

It was running on fumes.

Sounds like everything in your life is

running on fumes! You. your car, your phone!

True, but I'm really impressed you compared

me with a car earlier. If I were a car, I'd

probably be a really expensive sports car.

Roy, if you were a car, you probably wouldn't

even have all four wheels. Bye!

Bye.