Crossword Genius

Ran out two men (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

petered

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'ran out' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'two men' is the wordplay.
'two men' means two replacements for 'man'.
'man' becomes 'peter'.
'man' becomes 'ed' (short for Edward).
'peter'+'ed'='PETERED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for petered that I've seen is " exhausted".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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