How to say "I'm tired" without saying "I'm tired"

Everyone gets tired. A long day at work, a bad night's sleep, or just pushing too hard can all lead to that same overwhelming pull toward bed. There’s a wide range of ways to describe that feeling in English, and which one you use depends on the setting.

Formal expressions

In professional settings, a blunt "I'm tired" can come across as too casual. Instead, you can use phrases like "Please excuse me, I need to get some rest," or "I'm feeling a bit fatigued. Would you excuse me?" They convey the same thing while staying appropriate for the room.

Other polite options describe the same depletion more gently, like "I'm drained," "I'm bushed," or "I'm spent." They all point to a complete emptying out of physical or emotional energy, without sounding overly dramatic about it.

• I'm feeling a bit fatigued tonight. Would you excuse me?
• Long meeting today. I'm completely spent.

Informal expressions

With friends and family, the register drops. "I'm beat," "I'm worn out," and "I'm dead tired" all work fine in casual conversation.

• I can't make it out tonight, I'm worn out.
• I had to work overtime today, and I'm beat.

Intense and figurative expressions

Some days call for something stronger than "worn out" or "beat." "I'm dog-tired," "I'm wiped out," and "I'm running on empty" all describe exhaustion so complete that it feels like collapse.

• After the move, I was completely wiped out.
• I've been running on empty all week.

Others describe the physical sensation directly: "I can barely keep my eyes open," "I'm dead on my feet," or "I'm running on fumes." These work when you want someone to really picture it, not just hear it.

• I can barely keep my eyes open right now.

Sleep and drowsiness

When you're ready for bed, you can say "I'm going to bed" or "I'm going to hit the sack." Both work in most casual contexts.

• I'm exhausted, I'm going to hit the sack.

If you fall asleep suddenly, even briefly, "dozed off" or "nodded off" describe that.

• I was reading a good book until I dozed off.

Sometimes you're just low on energy without necessarily being ready to sleep. "I'm dragging" or "I feel sluggish" describe the slower, heavier feeling that comes with a bad night's sleep or an off day. When you say "I'm drowsy," it's about actually being on the edge of sleep.

• I'm really dragging this afternoon.
• I'm a bit drowsy. Let's stop at the next rest stop and get some shut-eye.

At the end of the day (often literally), there are a dozen ways to express just how tired you are. Hopefully you've got enough energy left to say it.