run down

Meaning

Feeling tired, drained, or slightly unwell, usually because of working too hard, stress, or lack of sleep. It describes a state of depleted energy where your body is vulnerable to getting sick.

Examples

• I’ve been working 60-hour weeks, and I’m starting to feel really run down.

  I’ve been working 60-hour weeks, and I’m starting to feel really run down.

• You look run down; why don't you take the weekend off and just rest?

  You look run down; why don't you take the weekend off and just rest?

• If you don't eat properly, you're going to get run down and catch a cold.

  If you don't eat properly, you're going to get run down and catch a cold.

• She felt so run down after the exams that she slept for twelve hours straight.

  She felt so run down after the exams that she slept for twelve hours straight.

• I always get run down around this time of year when the weather changes.

  I always get run down around this time of year when the weather changes.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I feel very running down today.

  ✓ I feel very run down today.

  'Run down' is a compound past participle used as an adjective. Do not use the '-ing' form to describe feeling exhausted.

• ✗ The doctor said I am down-run.

  ✓ The doctor said I am run down.

  The correct order of the compound adjective is always 'run down', never 'down-run'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After traveling for three weeks straight, I'm feeling completely ___.

  💡 Think of a phrase that means exhausted or physically depleted.

  Show answer

  run down

• Make sure you get enough sleep so you don't get ___ before the big exam.

  💡 It means to become tired and weak from lack of rest.

  Show answer

  run down