peter out

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The phrase "peter out" is a verb that means to gradually decrease in strength, intensity, or effectiveness until it eventually stops or becomes very small. It often describes something that starts strong but loses momentum over time.

Usage Instructions:

• "Peter out" is typically used when talking about something that fades away or diminishes.
• It can be used in everyday conversation and writing.

Examples:

1. In a sentence: "The party started with a lot of energy, but it began to peter out after a few hours."
2. In a different context: "The rain was heavy at first, but it began to peter out to just a light drizzle."

Advanced Usage:

• You can use "peter out" in various tenses. For example:
  • Present: "The enthusiasm for the project is starting to peter out."
  • Past: "After a few weeks, their interest in the game petered out."

Word Variants:

• There are no direct word variants of "peter out," but you can use the phrase in different forms like "petering out" for ongoing situations.

Different Meanings:

• While "peter out" primarily means to decrease or fade away, it can also imply that something has lost its excitement or appeal.

Synonyms:

• Dwindle: to gradually lessen or diminish.
• Fade away: to gradually disappear.
• Weaken: to become less strong or powerful.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Run out of steam": This idiom means to lose energy or motivation, similar to "peter out."
• "Die down": This means to become less intense or widespread, often used in the context of noise or excitement.

Summary:

To "peter out" is to gradually lose strength or intensity until it stops.

Academic

Verb

1. use up all one's strength and energy and stop working
   • At the end of the march, I pooped out
2. end weakly
   • The music just petered out--there was no proper ending

Synonyms

• poop out
• run down
• run out
• conk out
• taper off
• fizzle out
• fizzle