dead tired

Meaning

This is a very common, casual idiom used to describe being extremely exhausted. The word 'dead' here acts as an intensifier, meaning 'completely' or 'absolutely.' It is used in informal conversations with friends, family, or colleagues.

Examples

• I've been working since 6 AM, and I am dead tired.

  I've been working since 6 AM, and I am dead tired.

• She was dead tired after studying all night for her final exams.

  She was dead tired after studying all night for her final exams.

• Don't ask him to drive right now; he's dead tired.

  Don't ask him to drive right now; he's dead tired.

• We were dead tired by the time we finally reached the hotel.

  We were dead tired by the time we finally reached the hotel.

• I know you're dead tired, but we only have one more box to unpack.

  I know you're dead tired, but we only have one more box to unpack.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am deadly tired today.

  ✓ I am dead tired today.

  'Deadly' is an adjective meaning lethal or fatal. 'Dead' is the correct adverbial intensifier used in this idiom.

• ✗ He looked very dead tired.

  ✓ He looked dead tired.

  Because 'dead' already acts as an intensifier meaning 'extremely,' adding 'very' before it is redundant and unnatural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After driving for ten hours straight, we were both ___ .

  💡 Extremely exhausted (using 'dead' as an intensifier).

  Show answer

  dead tired

• I'm ___ , so I'm going straight to bed.

  💡 Absolutely exhausted.

  Show answer

  dead tired