to use up all of the available time or resources required to complete a certain task; from aviation, in which an accelerating or decelerating airplane does not have sufficient runway length remaining to complete a normal takeoff or landing, with potentially disastrous consequences; in an organizational context this phrase indicates that regardless of readiness, available information, completeness of preparation, etc., an action will need to be taken; if you hear this expression, it generally indicates a failure of planning or that something unpredictable has occurred