Tuckered Out
After mowing all day, most of us feel tuckered out. We have little energy and are too tired to move. Without rest, we will soon be under the weather.
Tuckered out means very tired, exhausted, or sleepy.
To stress how tired we feel, we might add that we are plumb tuckered out. Or, we might say we are plumb wore out. (Worn out is proper grammar, but wore out is commonly used.) We need to hit the hay.
Other activities that make many of us plumb tuckered out include:
- Gardening
- Walking
- Shopping
According to The Phrase Finder, “‘Tucker’ is a colloquial New England word.”
It was “coined in the early 19th century, meaning ‘become weary’ and … ultimately derives from the Old English verb ‘tuck,’ meaning ‘punish; torment.’”
Several activities may feel like punishment or torment:
- Housecleaning
- Pulling weeds in the hot sun
- Moving heavy boxes
- Washing a sink full of dirty dishes
Yet, getting tuckered out often makes us feel good.
Although tired, we finished what we needed or wanted to do. Whether fun activities or not, we can thank God for the ability to do them.
“[God] gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 TLB).
What leaves you tuckered out? Please comment below.
Thanks to Charles Smithers for the plumb tuckered out suggestion. Thanks to Emily Akin for plumb wore out.
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