Common Expression To Talk About Feeling Tired
I think we should start by looking at the most common expressions to use when feeling tired.
Let’s take a look.
I’m Tired
I think we all know this one. This is very easy. You feel tired, you say; I’m tired.
I’m Exhausted
This means to feel really tired. To the point where you have no energy left.
So, Jane is a nurse, and she has been on duty for 18 hours. She is really very tired!
She can say: I’m exhausted!
Or Robert has been studying all night for a big test. He has finished the test and has no energy.
He can say: I’m exhausted…
I’m Worn Out
This is a very similar expression to exhausted. It means being very tired and to have no energy.
Things people say:
I’ve been working late every night this week. I’m worn out.
I had eight classes today, all day. I’m worn out!
I’m Drained/I Feel Drained
Drained and Exhausted have very similar meanings. They both mean to be depleted of all energy.
So these phrases mean to be very tired and a lack of energy.
Things people say:
I can’t meet you tonight. I’ve just finished work. I’m drained.
I haven’t stopped all day. I feel drained.
(When someone says they haven’t stopped, they mean they have not had a single moment to rest. They have been working all the time.)
I’m Beat
This is originally an American expression, but used all over the world now.
It means that you are so tired that you feel like you have been in a fight with someone!
So, physically beaten or beaten up.
Things people say:
Wow, it’s been a really busy day, I’m beat.
I’ve had so much to do today, I’m beat.
I’m Pooped
Another phrase of American origin, but still widely used. It just means exhausted or very tired.
Things people say:
I’ve had meetings all day. I’m pooped.
I had to do a double shift today. I’m so pooped.
(A double shift means that someone has had to do two consecutive shifts at work, so ending up working sixteen hours.)
I’m Shattered
This is a very common British-English expression. It means really tired.
Things people say:
I had a big night out with my friends last night — I feel shattered today.
I feel shattered every time I do the late shift at work.
I’m Knackered
Another British-English expression. But very informal, so only use it with friends or people you know well.
Things people say:
Man, I just got back home, I’m knackered.
Steve’s been working so many hours this week. He’s knackered.
I’m Bushed
This is said to be of American or Australian origin. It means to be so tired from walking through thick undergrowth — or bushes.
Hence, bushed.
Things people say:
I am so bushed. I’ve been driving all day.
Every time Susan ends her day, she feels bushed.
These are some very common phrases we can use in English to express being tired or very tired.
But now let’s look at some more informal phrases that people use…
Informal Phrases To Talk About Feeling Tired
Below is a list of informal phrases that we can use in English to express being tired, very tired, or really exhausted.
Let’s have a read through all of them…
I’m Running On Empty
In this phrase, you are literally comparing your body to a car. And if the car runs out of petrol or gasoline, the driver could say; running on empty.
Things people say:
I am completely exhausted. I’m running on empty.
Colin got home and collapsed on the sofa. He was running on empty.
I’m Dead Tired
So this phrase just means really tired or exhausted. In English, we often use the word dead as an intensifier.
(We also say things like dead serious and dead easy)
Things people say:
Zola finished the race in first place. She was happy with the result, but she was dead tired.
These days I just feel dead tired. I get home and crash on my bed.
I’m Dead On My Feet
Another phrase using the word dead. Of course, it means exhausted or extremely tired.
Like you are a dead person walking around!
Things people say:
Why don’t you go to bed? You look dead on your feet!
I am dead on my feet. I haven’t sat down all day…
I Could Sleep For A Week
Of course, no one could sleep for a week. But this is a common phrase we use in English to express that we are feeling extremely tired.
Things people say:
After doing my classes all day, I felt like I could sleep for a week.
I had to do overtime today. I could sleep for a week.
I’m Zonked
This is an informal phrase to show that you are exhausted.
After hiking in the mountains all day, we felt totally zonked.
I had to do so many tests today, by the time I got home I was zonked.
I’m Wiped Out
This is American in origin. It comes from surfing culture, where, if a surfer fell off his surfboard, people would say he wiped out.
Now it is used in common parlance to express exhaustion.
Things people say:
I’ve had so many things to do today, I am wiped out.
Carrie got home and could barely think properly. She was wiped out.
I’m Spent
This means to be totally exhausted. It’s from the word spend, meaning to use money or your resources, to the point of depletion.
Things people say:
I’m spent. I haven’t had one moment’s rest all day.
Mack got home and fell asleep. He was spent from a long day in the factory.
I’m Dog-Tired
And another phrase to show being really tired.
We often associate tiredness and working hard with dogs.
We say dog-tired, as well as working like a dog.
Things people say:
I haven’t stopped all day, I’m dog-tired.
Lee is dog-tired. He had to fill in for another guy at work today.
(To fill in for another guy means to do the work of another person at work because they are absent.)
I’m Tuckered Out
This is a fairly old expression to signify sheer exhaustion from America.
Things people say:
Geoff was tuckered out. It had been a very hard day at work.
I’m just tuckered out… You will have to ask someone else to help you.
I’m Fried
This is an American expression to show that you are really tired.
It compares the person feeling tired to food being fried. When the food is fried for a long time, it is burnt or done.
Burnt and done are two other words we use to express being tired.
Things people say:
William was fried. He had just finished a very long shift at work.
I am fried. I really need to lie down.
So these are a few informal phrases we use in English to express being tired.
But now I want to show you some phrases that we use that describe tiredness.
Let’s move on…
Descriptive Phrases To Talk About Feeling Tired
Sometimes in English, we use phrases that describe more clearly how we feel.
There are some descriptive phrases that we can use like this to describe feeling tired.
I Feel Lethargic
Lethargic means to feel tired and have a lack of energy. But it doesn’t mean exhausted.
Things people say:
I think I need to have a rest, I’m feeling a bit lethargic.
Mike went to grab a cup of tea, as he felt lethargic all of a sudden.
(To grab a cup of tea means to buy or make a cup of tea to drink)
I’m Sluggish
This is very similar to lethargic in meaning.
Things people say:
Dan was feeling sluggish, so he sat down in the armchair.
After doing the gardening all morning, I felt a bit sluggish.
I’m Drowsy
Also similar to lethargic and sluggish. Tired, but not exhausted.
If I stare at the computer for too long at work, I start to feel drowsy.
I’m drowsy, I think I need to go for a walk.
(Sometimes people go for a walk to get some fresh air to give themselves more energy)
I’m Falling Asleep
This literally says that the person is so tired that they want to fall asleep. They are definitely feeling very tired!
I think I need to go to bed. I’m falling asleep.
Sally was nodding her head. She was falling asleep.
Just a few descriptive phrases you can use to express feeling tired more directly.
In English, as with any language, we use metaphors.
And of course, there are a few metaphors to talk about feeling tired.
Shall we take a look now?
Metaphors for Feeling Tired
So I have outlined the most common metaphors for feeling tired or to express being tired in English.
Let’s dive right in.
I’ve Been Burning The Candle At Both Ends
If you use this phrase, it means that you have been working — or playing! — too hard and you are running out of energy.
Imagine a candle being burnt at both ends. It would not last long!
This is what this phrase means.
(We use this phrase most commonly in the present perfect continuous — I’ve been burning — to show that this activity has been ongoing for some time)
Things people say:
I need to have a night in. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends.
Tom loves to go out with his friends, but he also has to get up early to go to work. He’s been burning the candle at both ends.
I Feel Like A Zombie
A zombie is a supernatural, mythical creature that has risen from the dead.
In English, we often use the comparison of dead or dying with extreme tiredness.
Hence this phrase.
It means to be extremely tired.
Things people say:
I had to do a double shift at the hospital yesterday. I feel like a zombie today…
I didn’t have any sleep last night… I’m like a zombie today…
I’m Running On Fumes
This compares the human body to a car engine. And the car engine has run out of gas, so it’s just using the bare fumes or smell of gas to move the car.
Essentially, it means you have no energy at all!
Things people say:
I can barely think today. I’m running on fumes.
I feel so exhausted. I’m just about running on fumes.
I’m Dragging My Feet
You know that feeling, where you are so tired, that you can barely lift your feet off the ground?
This is what this phrase means.
You are just dragging your feet along the ground.
Things people say:
I cannot do any overtime tonight. I’m dragging my feet.
I am absolutely shattered. I’m just dragging my feet.
(Notice here that the person is using a well-known phrase to express tiredness, followed by a metaphor phrase. This is quite common in spoken English.)
I Feel Like I’ve Hit A Wall
In English, when we use the phrase to hit a wall, it means that something has come to an end.
In the context of feeling tired, it means your body has come to an end, because you have no energy left!
Things people say:
Sorry, I cannot do any more. I feel like I’ve hit a wall.
I tried to do some more reps in the gym, but I felt like I’d hit a wall.
I Feel Like I’ve Been Hit By A Truck/Train
This conveys the feeling that a fast-moving truck or train has hit your body.
Of course, if this happened in real life, it would just stop your body from moving.
The meaning is that you are so exhausted that you feel like you have been hit by a big and fast-moving vehicle.
Things people say:
I’ve been doing overtime all week. I feel like I’ve been hit by a train!
I had to do an all-nighter. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.
(To do an all-nighter means to work or study all night with no sleep.)
So just a few metaphors that you can use.
Practice them in your own life!
In English, we also have phrases that express the desire to sleep…
Let’s dive right in.
Phrases That Express A Strong Desire To Sleep
The phrases below are often used when talking about being tired.
When we are tired, we often want to sleep.
And the phrases below express that very clearly.
Let’s take a look right now.
I Need A Nap
A nap is a short time of sleeping, usually for an hour or under, during the day.
People might take a nap in the afternoon.
Things people say:
I’ve been at it all morning. I need a nap.
(Been at it means that you have been working or studying for an extended period of time.)
I’m kind of knackered! I need a nap!
(Notice the use of two phrases here: One very informal and another to indicate the need to sleep.)
I’m Ready To Crash/I Need To Crash/Crash Out
The use of the word crash is comparing the body to a plane that is crashing to the ground.
When we are tired and need to sleep, we might collapse onto the bed and lie flat to sleep.
A little bit like a plane crash landing on the ground!
Things people say:
I’ve had a really hard week. I’m ready to crash.
I’ve just done a double shift. I need to crash.
As soon as Mike gets home from work, he needs to crash out.
I Can Barely Keep My Eyes Open
You know that feeling? You are so tired that you cannot keep your eyes open?
This is what this phrase means!
Things people say:
Bryan was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open while driving home.
Nate had just done three full days of work with overtime. He could barely keep his eyes open.
I have done so many classes today. I can barely keep my eyes open!
I Feel Like I Could Fall Asleep Standing Up
This phrase describes the feeling of being so tired that you are about to fall asleep while standing up.
It’s pretty self-explanatory…
Things people say:
I’ve done so much overtime this week, I feel like I could fall asleep standing up.
I haven’t had a moment’s rest since I started this morning. I feel like I could fall asleep standing up.
I’m Ready To Collapse
To collapse means to fall down and sleep.
You are so tired that you want to do this!
Things people say:
I am just about ready to collapse. I’ve been preparing for this exam all week.
John could barely move after working the night shift all week. He was ready to collapse.
I Need To Get Some Shut-Eye
Shut-eye just means to sleep.
So if you use this phrase, it means you are really tired and want to sleep.
Things people say:
After doing late shifts on duty, Clara needed to get some shut-eye.
I’ve been driving all day. I need to get some shut-eye.
I Didn’t Sleep A Wink Last Night
This phrase means that you didn’t sleep at all during the night.
A wink is to close one eye.
Things people say:
I didn’t sleep a wink last night. My next-door neighbour had an all-night party and made so much noise.
Bob didn’t sleep a wink last night as he was thinking about the interview had with the big company.
I’m Ready To Hit The Hay
To hit the hay means to go to bed. This is an American expression from long ago when people may have slept on hay instead of a bed.
Things people say:
I have been working on the construction site all day for twelve hours. I am ready to hit the hay.
Nigel had done very long shifts in the factory. He was ready to hit the hay.
Try to practice some of these phrases in your own life.
In the next section, I want to show you some phrases we use to talk about being mentally exhausted.
Let’s get into it now.
Phrases To Express Being Mentally Tired
Finally, I want to introduce some phrases you can use to express how you feel when you are mentally tired or drained.
Let’s take a look.
I’m Mentally Drained
This means that you have no more mental energy left. And it may be difficult to think clearly.
Things people say:
I had to mark all the assignments from all my students this morning. Now I feel mentally drained.
Steve was mentally drained from going over all his company accounts.
My Brain Is Fried
Remember earlier how we used the word fried to mean done or burnt out?
That’s how we use this phrase.
It means your brain is exhausted, and you need to rest.
Things people say:
I’ve been trying to make a new design for my website, but my brain is completely fried!
Ollie had to edit all the students’ writing. Now his brain was totally fried.
I’m Burnt Out
And this last phrase means that you have burnt all your energy.
You have nothing left!
So you are exhausted.
Things people say:
I’m burnt out. I had so much work to catch up with this morning.
Betty was burnt out. She couldn’t do any more work on her project.
And again, try to use these phrases in the context of your own life.
Conclusion
And that is it.
This is a pretty extensive list of phrases to remember. So I suggest that you just try to remember three or four each time you practice.
Try to use the first three or four phrases in the context of your own life. Then move on to the next three or four phrases.
With regular practice, you should be able to remember them all.
Good luck and happy studying!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
