exhaust oneself

/ɪɡˈzɔːst wʌnˈsɛlf/
phrasal verbIntermediate to tire oneself out completely
informal

to make oneself extremely tired, often through physical or mental exertion

He exhausted himself by working overtime every day for a month.

He worked so much that he was completely drained of energy.

She exhausted herself trying to meet all the project deadlines.

She pushed herself too hard to finish the project on time.

💡

This phrase is often used to describe someone who has pushed themselves beyond their limits, either physically or mentally.

Collocations

exhaust oneself physicallyto tire oneself out through physical activityexhaust oneself mentallyto tire oneself out through mental effort

Related Phrases

wear oneself outphrase
to tire oneself out
burn oneself outphrase
to exhaust oneself to the point of losing motivation

💡Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use 'exhaust oneself' when describing someone who has pushed themselves too hard, either physically or mentally.

Gold Rule

Grammar Rule

The phrase 'exhaust oneself' is reflexive, meaning the subject is both the doer and the receiver of the action.

📖Word Origin

The verb 'exhaust' comes from the Latin 'exhaustus', meaning 'drained out'. The phrase 'exhaust oneself' combines this with the reflexive pronoun 'oneself' to indicate self-inflicted exhaustion.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe extreme tiredness caused by overwork or over-exertion. It can refer to physical or mental exhaustion.

Word Breakdown

exhaust
to drain or tire completely
root
+
oneself
reflexive pronoun indicating the subject is the object of the action
suffix
English Dictionary