Wednesday’s Word

Word: Used up (Adj. phrase)

Definition: exhausted; worn out

Usage:

“Them carnival fellas looked pretty used up after the Wagstaff boys got through with them.”

“Ayuh. I guess they took quite a thrashing. Maybe that’ll learn ‘em not to cheat.”

Or:

“How’d you find your Uncle Harold?”

“Well, he says he’s all used up, but I see where he’s got in his next winter’s wood already.”

“Sounds about right. Harold always was tougher’n a bagful of hammers, for all his complaining. How old is he now?”

“Just turned eighty-three. He’ll see another round one, though.”

(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)