It’s late, I’m running on tea and stubbornness, and yes — I’m tired. But tired is boring, isn’t it?
British English has a whole wardrobe of exhausted words. The classic is knackered — not just “tired,” but “I could sleep standing up on a train with no seat” tired.
Then I started thinking: what if we mapped tiredness to jobs? It’s silly, useless, and 100% British — so here we are.
Job-Themed Tired Expressions
Mechanic - I’m tyred
Mechanics work with tyres. A playful way to say you’re tired.
Drummer - I’m beat
Drummers beat drums. You’re completely exhausted.
Pipe Layer - I’m drained
Pipes remove liquid. All your energy has gone.
Chef - I’m fried
Chefs fry food. Your brain feels overcooked.
Tailor - I’m worn out
Clothes wear out. You have no energy left.
Accountant - I’m spent
Accountants deal with money being spent. You’re exhausted.
Soldier - I’m shot
Soldiers shoot guns. You’re completely finished.
Bin Man - I’m wasted
Bin men collect waste. You feel like rubbish.
Plumber - I’m pooped
Plumbers deal with toilets. You’re very tired.
Undertaker - I’m dead
Undertakers work with dead people. Totally exhausted.
Window Cleaner - I’m wiped out
Window cleaners wipe glass. You have zero energy left.
Before You Go
If you liked these, try these work-and-office phrases next: