wear out
يبلى
直訳: carry on the body until it goes out
Use it for things (or people) that are exhausted or ruined by repeated use over a long time.
15秒でわかる
- Used for things that break from over-use over time.
- Describes being extremely tired or exhausted.
- Commonly used for clothes, shoes, and machinery.
- Includes the social idiom 'wear out your welcome'.
意味
This phrase is used when something gets ruined or stops working because you used it too much. It can also mean you are completely exhausted and have no energy left.
主な例文
3 / 6Talking about old shoes
I need new boots because these soles are starting to wear out.
I need new boots because these soles are starting to wear out.
After a long day at work
I am completely worn out after that meeting.
I am completely worn out after that meeting.
Discussing office equipment
The printer is wearing out because we use it for everything.
The printer is wearing out because we use it for everything.
文化的背景
The phrase originates from the textile industry and the physical act of wearing clothes until the fabric thins. In modern culture, it is heavily linked to 'burnout' in the workplace, reflecting a society that often works until physical or mental exhaustion.
The 'Worn Out' Adjective
You can use 'worn-out' (with a hyphen) as an adjective before a noun, like 'Those are some worn-out shoes!'
Don't confuse with 'Break'
If a glass shatters, it didn't wear out. Only use 'wear out' for things that degrade slowly over time.
15秒でわかる
- Used for things that break from over-use over time.
- Describes being extremely tired or exhausted.
- Commonly used for clothes, shoes, and machinery.
- Includes the social idiom 'wear out your welcome'.
What It Means
Wear out describes the slow death of an object or your energy. Imagine your favorite pair of sneakers. You walk in them every day for a year. Eventually, the soles get thin and holes appear. They have worn out. It is about the process of use leading to damage. It also applies to people. If you work a 12-hour shift, you might feel like your body is literally falling apart. You are worn out.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb, so it is flexible. You can use it for physical objects like tires, clothes, or machinery. Just say the object wore out. If you are the one doing the damage, you wear out the item. For people, we usually use the passive form: I am worn out. It sounds more natural than saying the day wore me out, though both work. Remember, the past tense is wore out and the participle is worn out.
When To Use It
Use it when talking about quality and durability. It is perfect for complaining about cheap fast-fashion clothes that disappear after one wash. Use it at work when you are staring at a computer screen and your brain stops functioning. It is great for parenting too. Kids have a magical ability to wear out their parents by 7:00 PM. It fits perfectly in casual chats or professional updates about equipment.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for things that break suddenly. If you drop your phone and the screen cracks, it didn't wear out; it broke. Wear out implies a long, slow process of friction and time. Also, don't use it for food. Bread doesn't wear out; it goes stale or molds. It is strictly for things that endure physical or mental friction. Avoid using it in extremely formal legal documents where depreciate or deteriorate might be preferred.
Cultural Background
In Western consumer culture, there is a big focus on things being 'built to last.' When something wears out too quickly, people get frustrated. It reflects a history of manual labor and industrial tools. There is also a common idiom: wear out your welcome. This means staying at a friend's house so long they get annoyed. It treats a social relationship like a piece of fabric that gets thinner the more you use it.
Common Variations
Worn out: The most common way to describe being tired.Wear and tear: A legal and commercial phrase for natural damage.Wear out your welcome: Staying too long as a guest.Wear someone down: Using persistence to make someone give up. It is likewear outbut more about a mental battle.
使い方のコツ
The phrase is very versatile and safe for almost any situation. Just remember that it implies a gradual process rather than a sudden break.
The 'Worn Out' Adjective
You can use 'worn-out' (with a hyphen) as an adjective before a noun, like 'Those are some worn-out shoes!'
Don't confuse with 'Break'
If a glass shatters, it didn't wear out. Only use 'wear out' for things that degrade slowly over time.
The Guest Rule
Americans often use 'wear out my welcome' as a polite way to say they are leaving so they don't become a burden.
例文
6I need new boots because these soles are starting to wear out.
I need new boots because these soles are starting to wear out.
Refers to physical friction making the material thin.
I am completely worn out after that meeting.
I am completely worn out after that meeting.
Describes total physical and mental exhaustion.
The printer is wearing out because we use it for everything.
The printer is wearing out because we use it for everything.
Professional context regarding machinery lifespan.
I don't want to wear out my welcome, so I'll leave by ten.
I don't want to wear out my welcome, so I'll leave by ten.
Using the specific idiom about not overstaying.
My toddler is trying to wear out the carpet by running in circles.
My toddler is trying to wear out the carpet by running in circles.
Hyperbole used for comedic effect.
The stress of the move has really worn her out.
The stress of the move has really worn her out.
Emotional context regarding life changes.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct form of the phrase for this sentence.
I've walked so much that I've ___ my favorite sneakers.
We use the past participle 'worn out' here because the action is completed (Present Perfect).
Complete the idiom about being a guest.
If you stay at their house for a month, you might wear out your ___.
The specific idiom is 'wear out your welcome,' meaning to stay longer than you are wanted.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality of 'Wear Out'
Talking to friends about being tired.
I'm totally worn out!
Describing clothes or household items.
The rug is wearing out.
In a business report about assets.
The machinery has worn out.
Where to use 'Wear Out'
Clothing
Jeans with holes in the knees.
Energy
Feeling exhausted after gym.
Social
Staying too long at a party.
Mechanical
Old car tires losing grip.
よくある質問
10 問Yes, but usually to mean they are tired. For example, The long flight really wore me out.
Wear out means something is finished or useless. Wear down means to slowly reduce something's size or someone's resistance.
Wore out is the past tense (I wore out my shoes). Worn out is the participle used with 'have' or as an adjective.
Usually, we say a battery 'died,' but if the battery can no longer hold a charge at all after years of use, you can say it is worn out.
Not at all. Saying You look worn out is a kind way to say someone looks like they need a rest.
Technically no, because it's not physical. However, people jokingly say it when a computer gets slow.
It means to stay somewhere as a guest for so long that the host wants you to leave.
It is neutral. In a very formal report, you might use deteriorate or depreciate instead.
Yes, this is the most common way to describe tires that have lost their tread.
There isn't a direct phrasal verb opposite, but you could say something is brand new or durable.
関連フレーズ
Burn out
To become exhausted from too much work.
Run down
In poor condition or lacking energy.
Tattered and torn
Old and in very bad condition (usually clothes).
On its last legs
About to break or stop working completely.
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