What does knackered mean?
Knackered is British slang meaning extremely tired or exhausted. It can also mean broken or worn out when describing an object, as in my old car is knackered.
The word comes from knacker, an old term for a person who bought old or injured horses to slaughter them. A knacker's yard was where these horses were taken.
From this, knackered came to mean worn out, like an old horse, and later simply very tired.
Using the word
Knackered is widely used in informal speech across Britain. Someone might say I'm knackered after a long day at work or after running a marathon.
It is informal and slightly rough, so it is not usually used in formal situations.
Similar British words include shattered, done in and cream crackered, which is Cockney rhyming slang for knackered.
Visitors from other English-speaking countries may not know the word, but it is one of the most common pieces of British slang. It also appears in Australian and New Zealand English. Using knackered about a machine or object means it is broken beyond repair or close to it.