Where "Stuffed" Comes From
Derived from the physical state of being overfilled or immobilized, Australians use 'stuffed' in three distinct ways: physically exhausted, mechanically broken, or as a blunt refusal.
It is one of the most frequently used words across Australian work sites and sports fields to express fatigue without profanity.
Source:
“I'm stuffed, I've been on my feet since six this morning.”
“The washing machine is stuffed, so we'll have to buy a new one.”
"I'm completely stuffed after working in the garden all afternoon in the sun."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used for personal fatigue ('I'm stuffed') or broken appliances ('the telly is stuffed').
Stuffed is a very handy everyday word because it has no swearing in it, so you can say it around workmates, teachers or kids. When it means tired, it is usually said with a sigh after a big effort: a long shift, a day on the move, a full weekend of sport. When it is about objects, it means they will not work any more and are not worth fixing.
The two meanings are easy to tell apart from the subject. A person or a machine can be stuffed, but only a person can be told to "get stuffed", which is rude and blunt, so avoid it with anyone you do not know well. It is milder than "buggered", which does the same job but is stronger. Also note that "stuffed" after a meal can mean full, which learners often confuse with tired.
See also: Knackered (near-synonym for very tired), Buggered (stronger version of the same idea), Cooked (another word for finished or worn out).
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