Are you feeling so tired you can barely move? Maybe you're looking at your partner dozing off on the couch? You could use the phrase “tuckered out” to describe how you or they feel right now.
Tuckered out is a common expression in the English language, with its biggest use being in the US, UK, and Australia. Being "tuckered out" isn't a favorite choice in the younger generations, but Boomers and Gen X'ers will probably still use the phrase to describe how tired they feel from time to time.
This post gives you everything you need to know about the origin, meaning, and use cases for "tuckered out."
Tuckered Out Meaning
To be "tuckered out" means that you're feeling so tired you can barely keep your eyes open. It's a struggle to remain awake, and you feel like you could pass out any minute. Many people use this phrase in conversation when describing how tired they feel to the other person.
Being “tuckered out” usually means that you're feeling exhausted, and you're referring to the other person you're turning in for the evening. It could also be an excuse for leaving a dinner party, telling the other people that you're tired and ready to go home.
Being tuckered out is a polite way to reference your mental state and energy levels. While the phrase doesn't have much use in the younger millennial and Gen Z crowd, it's still common in the older Gen X and Boomer generations.
Tuckered Out Example Usage
"Man, I can't wait to get home and get into bed; I'm feeling so tuckered out."
"Thanks for the hospitality Irene, but it's time for me to leave; I'm tuckered out."
"Wow, Mike looks tired and ready to hit the sack; I bet he's feeling tuckered out."
"That concert left me feeling tuckered out."
"I've been working 18-hours non-stop; I'm feeling tuckered out."
"There's no shame to feeling tuckered out after a day like today."
Tuckered Out Origin
This idiomatic expression first appeared in New England in the 1800s. The American origin of the phrase comes from the Old English "tuck," which means feeling tormented.
However, modern language interprets the "tormented" for feeling tired. The earliest written publication of the phrase comes from the Wisconsin Enquirer. The April 1839 issue has the following excerpt.
"I reckoned to have got to the tavern by sundown, but I haven't – as I'm prodigiously tuckered out."
This phrase gained popularity throughout the United States in the 1900s, and it's still in modern language today. The term also pairs with other intensifiers, increasing the emphasis on how tired the person feels.
The phrase was also common in cinematic features, especially in old western movies. Today, the term still has relevance, but more so in the older generations than Gen Z's and Millennials.
Phrases Similar to Tuckered Out
- I'm feeling finished.
- Dog tired.
- I feel like I could sleep till I'm dead.
- I'm going to sleep forever.
Phrases Opposite to Tuckered Out
- I feel full of beans.
- I'm alive with energy.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Tuckered out.
- All tuckered out.
Ways People May Say Tuckered Out Incorrectly
Some people may phrase "tuckered out" in the wrong manner or use it in inappropriate situations. Some people, especially Australians, refer to food as "tucker."
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Tuckered Out
You can use "tuckered out" in social and professional situations in reference to you feeling exhausted. We wouldn't recommend using it in executive conversation, but it suits any social situation. You can use the phrase to talk about yourself or other people's behavior around you.