Grammar fix
peter out
fade to nothing / gradually come to an end
to gradually become weaker, smaller, or less active until it disappears or stops completely, often after starting strongly
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- The excitement around the new app quickly petered out after a few weeks.daily life
- While initial interest in the recycling programme was high, participation gradually petered out as people lost motivation.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: peter out (no object); peter out + prep phrase
WrongThe conversation petered down.
RightThe conversation petered out.
The phrase is 'peter OUT', never 'peter down'.
Patternpeter out (no object); peter out + prep phrase
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Peter out' compactly means fade to nothing; the formal paraphrase is heavy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
peter out + subjectthe conversationthe trailinterestthe rain
Don't confuse it
'Peter out' is different from 'run out' (which means to use up all of something) and 'give up' (which means to stop trying). 'Peter out' focuses on a gradual fading or loss of strength until nothing remains.