1
general::
Phrase(s): wear something out
to make something worthless or nonfunctional from use. • I wore my shoes out in no time at all. • I wore out my shoes in less than a month., Phrase(s): wear out
to become worn from use; to become diminished or useless from use. • My car engine is about to wear out. • It takes a lot of driving to wear out an engine., Phrase(s): wear someone out
Fig. to exhaust someone; to make someone tired. • The coach made the team practice until he wore them out. • If he wears out everybody on the team, nobody will be left to play in the game.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
1. Become or cause to become unusable through long or heavy use, as in She wears out her shoes in no time, or The coupling in this device has worn out. [Early 1400s] 2. Exhaust, tire, as in I was worn out from packing all those books. Also see TIRED OUT. [First half of 1500s]
American Heritage Idioms