Eight Informal Ways to Say 'I'm Very Tired' in English | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 12 January 2024)

Are you feeling exhausted after a long day at work or a sleepless night? If you want to express your fatigue in an informal way, here are eight commonly used phrases for you:

1. I'm beat.
   ✅ I ran five miles this morning, and now I'm beat. I need to take a nap.
   ✅ After dancing all night, I'm beat. I can barely keep my eyes open.
   
   
2. I'm dead beat.
   ✅ I worked a double shift today, and now I'm dead beat. I feel like I've fought a tiger.
   ✅ After moving furniture all day, I'm dead beat. I can't do anything else.
   
   
3. I'm bushed.
   ✅ I'm bushed after playing basketball for three hours. 
   ✅ After the party last night, I'm bushed today.
   
   
4. I'm drained.
   ✅ I've been writing all day, and now I'm drained. I can't think anymore.
   ✅ After a long meeting, I'm drained. I need a break.
   
   
5. I'm worn out.
   ✅ I'm worn out after running errands all day. I just want to rest.
   ✅ After a busy day at work, I'm worn out.
   
   
6. I'm shattered.
   ✅ I'm shattered after a long flight. I need to sleep in my own bed.
   ✅ I stayed up all night to finish my paper, and now I'm shattered.
   
   
7. I'm wiped out.
   ✅ After running a marathon, I'm wiped out.
   ✅ I'm wiped out after playing football all morning. I need to rest my legs.
   
   
8. I'm knackered. (This one is commonly used in British English.)
   ✅ I've been up since dawn, and now I'm knackered.
   ✅ I'm knackered after staying up late to watch a film. I need some coffee right now.

These phrases are great for informal conversations with friends, family, or coworkers. However, keep in mind that they may be too casual for professional settings, so use them with care.

Examples from the Media

Sadly, there are toxic workplaces that take so much out of you that you are drained at the end of the day. —The Globe and Mail (2021)

More than 23 million Brits will be completely and utterly exhausted by the time Christmas arrives, according to research. A study found 35 percent of adults admit they are worn out by 25th December, citing the month as the most tiring of the year. —Mirror (2021)

I've worked for an MP for 25 years and the workload has never been this crazy. In January 2016, we dealt with 40 pieces of casework. In January this year we dealt with 1,025. We're now up to 4,639 cases so far this year, with a backlog of nearly 2,000 emails. We're all absolutely knackered. —The Guardian (2021)