Everyone gets tired sometimes. Maybe after a long day at school or playing outside with friends. But instead of always saying “I’m tired,” people often use fun phrases to describe how they feel. These are called idioms.
In this article, you’ll learn different idioms that people use when they feel tired or worn out. These idioms make it easier to show just how tired someone really is. For example, saying “I’m running on fumes” paints a picture of being super tired. Let’s look at 30 idioms that help explain being tired in creative ways.
Idioms for Tired
1. Run out of steam
Meaning: To lose energy or strength.
Samples: I ran out of steam while doing my homework. / She ran out of steam after the race.
To Put it Another Way: I got too tired to keep going. / I couldn’t finish because I was worn out.
2. Burned out
Meaning: Extremely tired from working too much.
Samples: I felt burned out after studying all weekend. / He’s burned out from too many practices.
To Put it Another Way: I was too tired to think. / I felt used up.
3. Dead on my feet
Meaning: Very, very tired but still standing.
Samples: After the field trip, I was dead on my feet. / She was dead on her feet after the party.
To Put it Another Way: I could barely stand up. / I felt like falling over.
4. Hit the hay
Meaning: Go to bed to sleep.
Samples: I’m ready to hit the hay. / He hit the hay right after dinner.
To Put it Another Way: I went to sleep. / I was ready for bed.
5. Sleep like a log
Meaning: Sleep very deeply.
Samples: I was so tired, I slept like a log. / She slept like a log after the hike.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t wake up once. / I slept really well.
6. Out like a light
Meaning: Fall asleep very fast.
Samples: He was out like a light as soon as he hit the pillow. / I was out like a light after soccer.
To Put it Another Way: I fell asleep quickly. / I was asleep right away.
7. Running on fumes
Meaning: Almost out of energy.
Samples: I was running on fumes during class. / She was running on fumes by the end of the game.
To Put it Another Way: I barely had energy. / I was super tired.
8. Dog-tired
Meaning: Very tired.
Samples: After moving boxes all day, I was dog-tired. / He was dog-tired after the game.
To Put it Another Way: I was exhausted. / I needed rest badly.
9. Beat
Meaning: Completely tired or worn out.
Samples: I was beat after gym class. / She felt beat from doing chores.
To Put it Another Way: I had no energy left. / I felt really tired.
10. Wiped out
Meaning: Very tired from doing something hard.
Samples: I was wiped out after cleaning my room. / He looked wiped out after the hike.
To Put it Another Way: I needed a break. / I felt drained.
11. Bone-tired
Meaning: So tired it feels deep in your body.
Samples: She was bone-tired from the long trip. / I was bone-tired after helping all day.
To Put it Another Way: I felt tired all over. / My whole body was tired.
12. Drop off
Meaning: Fall asleep, usually by accident.
Samples: I dropped off during the car ride. / She dropped off while watching the movie.
To Put it Another Way: I fell asleep. / I couldn’t stay awake.
13. Call it a night
Meaning: Stop what you’re doing and go to bed.
Samples: It’s late let’s call it a night. / I called it a night after the homework.
To Put it Another Way: I stopped and went to bed. / Time to rest.
14. Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to sleep.
Samples: I’m going to hit the sack now. / He hit the sack after dinner.
To Put it Another Way: Time for bed. / I need sleep.
15. Plumb tuckered out
Meaning: Completely worn out (used in the southern U.S.).
Samples: I was plumb tuckered out after the fair. / He was plumb tuckered out from running.
To Put it Another Way: Totally tired. / Couldn’t do any more.
16. Pooped
Meaning: Very tired.
Samples: I’m pooped after soccer. / We were all pooped after the carnival.
To Put it Another Way: I’m exhausted. / So tired.
17. At the end of my rope
Meaning: Too tired or out of patience.
Samples: I’m at the end of my rope with this project. / She was at the end of her rope after babysitting.
To Put it Another Way: I can’t take it anymore. / I’m too tired to go on.
18. Can’t keep my eyes open
Meaning: Very sleepy.
Samples: I can’t keep my eyes open in math class. / He was so tired he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
To Put it Another Way: I need to sleep. / I’m falling asleep.
19. Ready to drop
Meaning: So tired that you feel like falling over.
Samples: After hiking, I was ready to drop. / She looked ready to drop after the big game.
To Put it Another Way: I felt like collapsing. / I couldn’t stand anymore.
20. Dead tired
Meaning: Extremely tired.
Samples: I was dead tired after cleaning my room. / He came home dead tired from practice.
To Put it Another Way: I was very sleepy. / I had no energy left.
21. Feel like a zombie
Meaning: Move slowly and act tired like a zombie.
Samples: I felt like a zombie in class today. / She walked around like a zombie all morning.
To Put it Another Way: I was so tired I could barely move. / I didn’t feel awake.
22. Crash
Meaning: To fall asleep quickly from being tired.
Samples: I crashed on the couch after dinner. / He crashed the moment he got home.
To Put it Another Way: I went to sleep fast. / I passed out from being tired.
23. Knocked out
Meaning: To be very tired and sleep deeply.
Samples: I was knocked out by 9 p.m. / She got knocked out after her trip.
To Put it Another Way: I slept hard. / I didn’t wake up.
24. Too tired to think
Meaning: So tired that it’s hard to focus.
Samples: I was too tired to think after studying. / He couldn’t do his homework; he was too tired to think.
To Put it Another Way: My brain was tired. / I couldn’t focus at all.
25. Drained
Meaning: Feeling like all your energy is gone.
Samples: I was drained after doing chores all day. / She felt drained after her game.
To Put it Another Way: I had nothing left. / I needed rest badly.
26. Tired to the bone
Meaning: Extremely tired, all over your body.
Samples: I was tired to the bone after the hike. / She was tired to the bone from working all week.
To Put it Another Way: Totally exhausted. / I couldn’t move.
27. Crash and burn
Meaning: Get tired fast and need to stop.
Samples: I crashed and burned halfway through the hike. / He crashed and burned during the race.
To Put it Another Way: I ran out of energy fast. / I needed to stop.
28. Feel heavy
Meaning: Feel tired and slow, like your body is heavy.
Samples: My legs felt heavy after running. / She felt heavy from being so sleepy.
To Put it Another Way: I felt slow. / My body was tired.
29. Ready to drop
Meaning: On the edge of falling from tiredness.
Samples: I was ready to drop after the long walk. / He looked ready to drop in class.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t keep going. / I needed sleep now.
30. Worn out
Meaning: Very tired from working or playing hard.
Samples: I was worn out after gym. / She felt worn out after the parade.
To Put it Another Way: I needed a break. / I was tired from everything.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Tired
Story Title: “Sleepover Crash”
On Friday night, Zoe and her friends had a sleepover. At first, they were full of energy, playing games and telling stories. But by midnight, they were running on fumes.
Zoe yawned. “I’m wiped out,” she said. Mia nodded. “I feel like a zombie!” Emma flopped onto the couch. “I’m beat. Let’s call it a night.”
The lights went out, and within minutes, Zoe was out like a light. Emma crashed right beside her. Mia whispered, “I can’t keep my eyes open,” and soon, she was asleep too.
The next morning, they woke up slowly. “I slept like a log,” Emma said. “Same,” Zoe added, rubbing her eyes. “I was dead on my feet last night.”
They all laughed, knowing that next time, they might go to bed a little earlier.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for tired used in the story.
Answer Key
- Running on fumes
- Wiped out
- Feel like a zombie
- I’m beat
- Call it a night
- Out like a light
- Can’t keep my eyes open
- Slept like a log
- Dead on my feet
Conclusion
Idioms for tired help us explain how we feel in a more colorful way. Instead of just saying “I’m tired,” you can say “I’m wiped out” or “I feel like a zombie.” These idioms help people understand just how tired you really are.
When you use these idioms, it makes your stories and conversations more fun. Try one next time you’re feeling sleepy, you might make someone smile or laugh!
