run out of things to say

Meaning

To have no more topics or ideas left to talk about during a conversation, often leading to an awkward silence. It usually happens on awkward first dates, with strangers, or when a conversation has naturally reached its end.

Examples

• We sat in silence for a few minutes after we ran out of things to say.

  We sat in silence for a few minutes after we ran out of things to say.

• I always worry that I'll run out of things to say on a first date.

  I always worry that I'll run out of things to say on a first date.

• After talking for three hours, we finally ran out of things to say.

  After talking for three hours, we finally ran out of things to say.

• If you run out of things to say, you can always ask about their hobbies.

  If you run out of things to say, you can always ask about their hobbies.

• It was an awkward lunch because we ran out of things to say almost immediately.

  It was an awkward lunch because we ran out of things to say almost immediately.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We ran out of saying things during the call.

  ✓ We ran out of things to say during the call.

  The set phrase is 'run out of things to say'. Using the gerund 'saying things' is grammatically incorrect in this idiom.

• ✗ I finished my things to say very quickly.

  ✓ I ran out of things to say very quickly.

  'Finished my things to say' is a literal translation from other languages and sounds unnatural. Use 'ran out of things to say' to describe having nothing left to talk about.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The conversation was going well until we suddenly ___.

  💡 Had nothing left to talk about (past tense).

  Show answer

  ran out of things to say

• I hate going on blind dates because I'm afraid I will ___.

  💡 Have no more topics to talk about.

  Show answer

  run out of things to say