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exhaust oneself
/ɪɡˈzɔːst wʌnˈsɛlf/
to tire oneself out completely
After running a marathon, she completely exhausted herself.
She was so tired after the marathon that she had no energy left.
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
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
rootoneself
reflexive pronoun indicating the subject is the object of the action
suffixEnglish Dictionary