/ˈrʌnɪŋ aʊt əv ˈrʌnˌweɪ/ verb phrase
Definition: Get it together; life doesn’t last forever.
Etymology
An aviation metaphor used to describe the critical point during takeoff or landing where the remaining pavement is insufficient for the aircraft’s current speed or trajectory. In a broader life and business context, it refers to the “results-driven” reality that time and capital are finite. It is an “honest feedback” mechanism—a warning that the period of “Procrastination Station” or “dry dock” preparation must end immediately if one intends to achieve flight.
Usage
Context: Used to inject “rigor” into a stalled project or life phase. It is a “low-friction” way to tell someone (or oneself) to “get it together” because the window for a “graceful exit” or successful launch is closing. It implies that the luxury of “may-as-wells” is gone; only essential actions matter now.
In a sentence: “You’ve been talking about launching that new library initiative for three years; you’re running out of runway, and it’s time to commit or cut the project.”