Everyone feels weak sometimes. In the United States, people often use fun or creative sayings to talk about feeling tired, scared, or not strong. These special phrases are called idioms. Idioms don’t always mean what the words say. They help make talking more colorful and easy to understand. For example, instead of saying someone is very tired, a person might say, “He’s running on fumes.”
Idioms about weakness can talk about the body or the mind. They might describe feeling sick, nervous, or not able to do something. Learning these sayings helps kids and adults talk about how they feel. In this article, we will explore 25 common idioms Americans use when talking about weakness. You’ll also find examples to help you use them in everyday life.
Idioms About Weakness
1. Weak as a kitten
Meaning: Very weak or not strong at all
Example Sentence:
– After the flu, he was as weak as a kitten.
– She felt as weak as a kitten after the long hike.
Other ways to say: Very tired, not strong
Fun Fact/Origin: Kittens are cute but not strong, so this idiom shows how little strength someone has.
Usage: Often used after someone is sick or tired.
2. A glass jaw
Meaning: Easily hurt, especially in a fight
Example Sentence:
– The boxer had a glass jaw and was knocked out quickly.
– He’s tough, but his glass jaw is a problem.
Other ways to say: Easily defeated, fragile
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from boxing. A boxer with a “glass jaw” gets knocked out easily.
Usage: Used in sports or to describe weakness in handling pressure.
3. Fall apart
Meaning: To lose control emotionally or physically
Example Sentence:
– She fell apart after the test results.
– The old bike started to fall apart.
Other ways to say: Break down, lose control
Fun Fact/Origin: It started as a way to describe broken objects but now also means losing emotional control.
Usage: Used for both emotions and things.
4. Out of gas
Meaning: Out of energy or tired
Example Sentence:
– I was out of gas after gym class.
– By the end of the day, she was totally out of gas.
Other ways to say: Worn out, exhausted
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cars running out of fuel.
Usage: Common in daily talk when someone feels tired.
5. Running on fumes
Meaning: Having almost no energy left
Example Sentence:
– He was running on fumes after staying up all night.
– She worked all day and was running on fumes by dinner.
Other ways to say: Barely hanging on, very tired
Fun Fact/Origin: Also from car engines that are almost out of gas.
Usage: Used when someone keeps going even though they’re very tired.
6. Not up to par
Meaning: Not as good as expected
Example Sentence:
– His performance was not up to par today.
– The meal wasn’t up to par at that restaurant.
Other ways to say: Below standard, not good enough
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from golf, where “par” is the expected score.
Usage: Used in sports, work, and school.
7. Down for the count
Meaning: Too weak or tired to keep going
Example Sentence:
– After the flu, he was down for the count.
– The team was down for the count after three losses.
Other ways to say: Knocked out, out of action
Fun Fact/Origin: From boxing, when a fighter can’t get up before the count ends.
Usage: Used when someone is too tired or sick to continue.
8. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Frozen or scared, not able to move
Example Sentence:
– She stood like a deer in headlights during her speech.
– He looked like a deer in headlights when called on in class.
Other ways to say: Scared, frozen
Fun Fact/Origin: Deer freeze when bright car lights shine at them.
Usage: Used when someone is scared or shocked.
9. Spineless
Meaning: Lacking courage
Example Sentence:
– He was too spineless to stand up to the bully.
– A spineless person won’t say what they believe.
Other ways to say: Cowardly, afraid to act
Fun Fact/Origin: “Spine” is linked to being strong or brave.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t stand up for themselves.
10. Wet noodle
Meaning: Someone who is weak or not strong
Example Sentence:
– He’s a wet noodle when it comes to hard work.
– Don’t be a wet noodle—speak up!
Other ways to say: Lazy, unmotivated
Fun Fact/Origin: A noodle is soft and floppy, just like someone who gives up easily.
Usage: Often used in teasing or light humor.
11. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up
Example Sentence:
– After failing again, he threw in the towel.
– She was ready to throw in the towel on the project.
Other ways to say: Quit, give up
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from boxing—throwing in a towel ends the fight.
Usage: Used when someone quits or gives up.
12. Hit the wall
Meaning: Suddenly run out of energy
Example Sentence:
– I hit the wall during the last mile of the run.
– She hit the wall during finals week.
Other ways to say: Exhausted, drained
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular among athletes and runners.
Usage: Common in school or sports when people are too tired to go on.
13. Dead tired
Meaning: Extremely tired
Example Sentence:
– After the trip, we were dead tired.
– I was dead tired after helping at the event.
Other ways to say: Exhausted, worn out
Fun Fact/Origin: “Dead” is used to show something is total or complete.
Usage: Everyday talk for very tired feelings.
14. Wipe out
Meaning: To fall or be too tired
Example Sentence:
– He wiped out after soccer practice.
– She wiped out while skating.
Other ways to say: Collapse, fall
Fun Fact/Origin: First used in surfing, now used more widely.
Usage: Used when someone falls or feels really tired.
15. Like jelly
Meaning: Feeling shaky or weak
Example Sentence:
– My legs were like jelly after the roller coaster.
– He was so nervous, he felt like jelly.
Other ways to say: Shaky, wobbly
Fun Fact/Origin: Jelly moves easily and is soft—just like weak knees or arms.
Usage: Used when nervous or physically weak.
16. Break down
Meaning: To lose control or stop working
Example Sentence:
– She broke down crying after hearing the news.
– The old truck broke down on the way home.
Other ways to say: Fall apart, stop working
Fun Fact/Origin: Can mean a person or machine stops working.
Usage: Used for both emotional and physical weakness.
17. Chicken out
Meaning: To get scared and not do something
Example Sentence:
– He chickened out of riding the roller coaster.
– She wanted to sing but chickened out at the last minute.
Other ways to say: Back out, lose nerve
Fun Fact/Origin: Chickens are seen as fearful animals.
Usage: Used when someone gets scared and changes their mind.
18. Lose your nerve
Meaning: To become too afraid to continue
Example Sentence:
– I lost my nerve before the big speech.
– She lost her nerve and didn’t audition.
Other ways to say: Chicken out, freeze up
Fun Fact/Origin: “Nerve” means courage here. Losing it means losing bravery.
Usage: Often used before big or scary events.
19. Push over
Meaning: A person who is easy to control or defeat
Example Sentence:
– He’s no pushover when it comes to debates.
– Don’t be a pushover—stand your ground.
Other ways to say: Easy target, weak-willed
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of something being easy to push.
Usage: Used to describe people who don’t stand up for themselves.
20. No backbone
Meaning: Lacking strength or courage
Example Sentence:
– He has no backbone—he agrees with everyone.
– She needs to grow a backbone and speak up.
Other ways to say: Spineless, weak
Fun Fact/Origin: The backbone (spine) helps you stand tall—so not having one means no strength.
Usage: Used for someone who won’t defend themselves or take action.
21. At the end of your rope
Meaning: Out of strength or patience
Example Sentence:
– I’m at the end of my rope with this broken phone.
– She was at the end of her rope after a long week.
Other ways to say: Fed up, can’t take more
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of running out of rope to hold on to.
Usage: Used in stressful or frustrating moments.
22. Drop like flies
Meaning: Many people fall ill or quit quickly
Example Sentence:
– During flu season, kids dropped like flies at school.
– Workers dropped like flies during the heatwave.
Other ways to say: Quit fast, get sick quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how flies die quickly in groups.
Usage: Often used when many people are affected at once.
23. Lose steam
Meaning: To lose energy or interest
Example Sentence:
– The team lost steam after halftime.
– He lost steam working on the big project.
Other ways to say: Slow down, lose drive
Fun Fact/Origin: From steam engines that slow down when the steam runs out.
Usage: Used when someone starts strong but gets tired or bored.
24. Crack under pressure
Meaning: To fail or break down due to stress
Example Sentence:
– He cracked under pressure during the test.
– She cracked under pressure when asked tough questions.
Other ways to say: Break down, lose control
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of something breaking when squeezed too hard.
Usage: Used when stress causes someone to fail.
25. Throw one’s hands up
Meaning: To give up or stop trying
Example Sentence:
– After trying everything, she threw her hands up.
– He threw his hands up when the game got too hard.
Other ways to say: Quit, give in
Fun Fact/Origin: Throwing hands in the air shows someone has stopped trying.
Usage: Often used when someone gets frustrated and gives up.
Quiz: Idioms About Weakness
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Each one tests your understanding of idioms about weakness. Good luck!
Question Key
1. What does “running on fumes” mean?
A) Driving a fast car
B) Having very little energy left
C) Using strong perfume
2. If someone is “weak as a kitten,” how do they feel?
A) Very strong
B) Very playful
C) Very weak
3. What does “throw in the towel” mean?
A) Give up
B) Do laundry
C) Clean something
4. If a person “loses their nerve,” what happens?
A) They fall asleep
B) They become too scared to act
C) They start running
5. What does it mean to “crack under pressure”?
A) Break something for fun
B) Laugh out loud
C) Fail because of stress
6. If someone is “down for the count,” what are they?
A) Ready to play
B) Knocked out or too weak
C) Counting numbers
7. What does “no backbone” mean?
A) Someone is brave
B) Someone is tall
C) Someone lacks courage
8. If your legs feel “like jelly,” what does that mean?
A) They feel strong
B) They are wobbly or weak
C) They are sweet
9. What does it mean to “chicken out”?
A) To cook dinner
B) To get scared and back out
C) To act like a bird
10. If someone is a “pushover,” what are they?
A) Hard to defeat
B) Very easy to control
C) Very stubborn
Answer Key
- B – Having very little energy left
- C – Very weak
- A – Give up
- B – They become too scared to act
- C – Fail because of stress
- B – Knocked out or too weak
- C – Someone lacks courage
- B – They are wobbly or weak
- B – To get scared and back out
- B – Very easy to control
Wrapping Up
Idioms about weakness help us talk in a fun and clear way about feeling tired, scared, or not strong. People in the USA use these phrases every day—in school, sports, and even at home. When you hear someone say they “hit the wall” or “feel like jelly,” now you’ll know what they mean.
Try using some of these idioms in your own conversations. It’s a simple way to speak like many Americans do and understand others better, too.
