Dog tired

Meaning

The idiom "dog tired" means to be extremely exhausted or worn out, often to the point of being too drained to continue working or doing anything else. It can also mean feeling overworked or stressed out.

Usage

• After working all night on the project, John was dog tired and fell asleep as soon as he hit his pillow.
• The team had been practicing for weeks and were dog tired by the end of the game.
• My friend was dog tired after driving five hours to see me.
• I'm feeling so dog tired today, I can barely function.
• She knew she was going to be dog tired when she got home from work.

Roots and History

The idiom "dog tired" has been in use since at least the early 1900s. Its exact origins are unclear, but it may have derived from the idea of a dog that is so exhausted from running or playing that it can barely move. Over time, the phrase has come to be used figuratively to describe a person who is extremely tired, whether due to physical activity or emotional stress.

Synonyms in English

• "beat",
• "worn out",
• "exhausted",
• "tired".

Synonyms in other languages

• In Spanish, the idiom for feeling extremely tired is "cansado/a" or "agotado/a";
• in French, it is "fatigué/e";
• in German, it is "müde";
• in Italian, it is "stremato/a";
• in Japanese, it is "疲れた".

Similar Idioms

• dollars to donuts

• bring owls to Athens

• tasted blood