Knackered (adjective / British slang)
(Also heard as: Proper knackered, Absolutely knackered, Knackering)
Definition:
-
Completely wiped out, running on empty, and desperate for your bed.
-
Totally broken, busted, or ready for the bin.
Where It Comes From: Back in the day, a “knacker” was the bloke you called to cart away old, worn-out workhorses when they couldn’t work anymore. If a horse was sent to the knacker’s yard, it was game over. Over time, Brits just started using it for anything that’s completely dead on its feet or broken beyond repair.
How People Actually Use It: You’ll hear it every Friday at 5 PM when people finish a brutal week at work, after a heavy gym session, or the morning after a messy night out. It’s also what you call your motor when it makes a horrible grinding noise and dies at the side of the road, or your phone when the battery drops from 80% to dead in two minutes flat.
Examples in the Wild:
-
“Done a double shift on the ward today, mate, I’m proper knackered.”
Translation: I’ve worked all day and can barely keep my eyes open.
-
“The boiler’s made a weird clunking sound and stopped working—it’s totally knackered.”
Translation: The heating has packed in and we need a new one.
-
“Carrying that sofa up three flights of stairs absolutely knackered me.”
Translation: That heavy lifting has completely drained all my energy.
Similar Slang: Shattered, Battered, Done in, Dead on my feet, Kaput, Clapped out
Contribute To This Page