Burnouts

/ˈbɜrnˌaʊts/ noun

Definition

Plural of burnout: either the failure of an electrical device due to overheating, or exhaustion from working too hard without rest.

Etymology

From burn + out, combining the verb burn with the adverb out, creating a phrasal verb that was later nominalized. Originally referred to mechanical failure in the 1950s, later applied to human exhaustion.

Kelly Says

It's wild that we use the same word for an engine failing and a person failing—it suggests we sometimes treat humans like machines that need fuel and maintenance or they'll literally break down.

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