Grammar fix
peter out
fade to nothing / gradually come to an end
to gradually become weaker, smaller, or less active until it disappears or stops completely, often after starting strongly
phrasal verbC1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The excitement around the new app quickly petered out after a few weeks.
While initial interest in the recycling programme was high, participation gradually petered out as people lost motivation.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The conversation petered down.
Say: The conversation petered out.
The phrase is 'peter OUT', never 'peter down'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Peter out' compactly means fade to nothing; the formal paraphrase is heavy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
peter out + subject
- the conversation
- the trail
- interest
- the rain