burn out — lose passion
phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional
To gradually lose enthusiasm, creativity, or emotional engagement with something, especially a project, activity, or cause, often due to prolonged effort or repeated disappointment.
Say it like a native
Textbook After ten years, she gradually lost all enthusiasm for the cause.
Native After ten years, she just burned out on it.
'Burn out on something' captures losing the fire for it; the paraphrase is wordy.
Pattern: burn out (on something)
In use
- After years of campaigning for environmental reform, many activists burn out on the cause and struggle to stay involved.work
- Some argue that without adequate support, teachers may burn out on their profession, leading to a decline in educational quality.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He burned out from the music.
✓ He burned out on music. / He lost his passion for music.
'Burn out ON' something you've lost enthusiasm for.
Common collocations
burn out (on)— on it, creatively, lose interest, after years
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B2 sense 'become exhausted', this sense focuses on emotional or creative depletion, not just tiredness or lack of motivation due to overwork.
Related
- burn out (become exhausted) — 'burn out' also has the more basic meaning 'become exhausted'; this is the advanced sense.