Meaning trap
burn out
become exhausted
To become extremely tired or lose motivation, usually because of working or studying too much for a long time.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To become extremely tired or lose motivation, usually because of working or studying too much for a long time.
Another meaning of 'burn out' is 'stop burning or working'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- After working twelve-hour days for months, she finally burned out and had to take a break.work
- I believe it's important to take regular holidays, otherwise people can burn out and become less productive at work.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: burn out (no object) / burn someone out (object)
WrongI'm getting burn out at work.
RightI'm getting burned out at work. / I'm burning out at work.
Use 'burned/burnt out' (participle) as an adjective, or 'burning out' — not 'burn out'.
Patternburn out (no object) / burn someone out (object)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Burn out' is the everyday verb for exhaustion from overwork; the formal paraphrase is clinical.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
burn out (from overwork)completelyfrom stressat workrisk
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'run out' (which means to have no more of something).
Related
- burn out (stop burning or working) — Another meaning of 'burn out' is 'stop burning or working'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.