Worn-to-a-frazzle


in a state of nervous exhaustion, as in the very idea of moving again has us worn to a frazzle. this expression transfers frazzle, which means “a frayed edge,” to one’s feelings. [ late 1800s ]

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  • Worry

    to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret. to move with effort: an old car worrying uphill. to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague. to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another. to har-ss by repeated biting, snapping, etc. a worried condition […]

  • Worried-sick

    also, worried to death. extremely anxious, as in her parents were worried sick when she didn’t come home all night, or we’ve been worried to death about the drop in the stock market. these somewhat hyperbolic phrases (one could conceivably feel ill from worrying but would hardly die from it) date from the second half […]

  • Worried-well

    noun (informal) the worried well, the people who do not need medical treatment, but who visit the doctor to be re-ssured, or with emotional problems

  • Worriedly

    having or characterized by worry; concerned; anxious: their worried parents called the police. indicating, expressing, or attended by worry: worried looks. historical examples the boy chums cruising in florida waters wilmer m. ely happy ending fredric brown ruth fielding at college alice b. emerson the 4-d doodler graph waldeyer the corner house girls at school […]

  • Worries

    to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret. to move with effort: an old car worrying uphill. to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague. to seize, especially by the throat, with the teeth and shake or mangle, as one animal does another. to har-ss by repeated biting, snapping, etc. a worried condition […]


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