Like Death Warmed Over/Up, to Feel/Look ☠️
To “feel/look like death warmed over/up” means to feel or appear utterly exhausted or extremely ill. Imagine being so rundown you could pass for a ghost at a Halloween party without any makeup. The expression is evocative, painting a picture of a person who’s one alarm clock away from becoming a zombie.
Intriguing Origins
While it sounds grim, the phrase’s origins are quite the historical ride. It likely came into usage around the twentieth century, possibly rooted in the trenches of World War I, making its rounds in a 1939 dictionary of soldiers’ slang. Though “like death warmed over” might not be as common today, “to feel like death” still makes the rounds.
Related Terms & Synonyms
- Dead tired
- Exhausted
- Beetle-browed
- Knackered (British)
- Dog-tired
Antonyms
- Fresh as a daisy
- Fit as a fiddle
- Energized
Witty Examples & Quotes
“If looking like ‘death warmed over’ were an Olympic event, I’d be bringing home the gold!”
“After pulling an all-nighter, Tom looked like death warmed over – poor guy even scared his pet goldfish.”
Delightful Proverbs & Jokes
Proverb: “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.”
Joke: Why did the skeleton go to the party alone? He had no body to go with him!
Cultural References
- Literature: Agatha Christie’s characters sometimes seem to have just popped over from the ‘dearly departed’ category.
- Books: “Bridget Jones’s Diary” by Helen Fielding – sleepless nights and epic hangovers make the protagonist a walking exemplar of “death warmed over.”
- Music: “I’m So Tired” by The Beatles captures the sentiment sonically.
- Films: “Shaun of the Dead” – well, this one has literal zombies, but you get the picture.
Inspirational Thought: Even when we feel like death warmed over, a little humor, a good sleep, and some self-care can help us rise again. Keep laughing and take life one sleepy, occasionally bedraggled, step at a time.
Publishing Date: October 7, 2023
Hidden Bonus: Being death warmed over isn’t the end; it’s an opportunity for the most epic nap of your life.
Kind regards,
Elder P. Witz
