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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

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“Run thin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/run%20thin. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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