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Original poster

Do you class knackered as swearing?

264 replies

DisappointedD · 14/01/2026 19:36

I have always thought of it as a mild swear word. A word I wouldn’t want my younger children using but wouldn’t be too bothered by a teen (but not to their grandparents) type word.

There is a current radio ad using the word which made me think about it earlier. I was surprised when I heard it and didn’t think it was a word I’d heard used in ad’s before.

OP posts:
HoppityBun · 14/01/2026 20:19

Some of these answers are bizarre.

Animals were taken to the knacker”s, or to the knackers yard, to be slaughtered when they were tired, worn out and of no further use. That’s what being knackered means.

I suppose people have less than less to do with animals and slaughtering, so the meaning gets lost.

Terrribletwos · 14/01/2026 20:19

DisappointedD · 14/01/2026 19:39

Yes tired, but IMO not a particularly pleasant way of saying it. I do say it, but wouldn’t want my 5 year old saying it.

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Why though, it's just a word really as are all words. It maybe has some sort of connotation that you don't like?

Biskieboo · 14/01/2026 20:18

I'm just wondering if anybody else has got a decent way through life (I'm 46), without ever having heard it said that 'knackered' specifically relates to being tired after sex? Hand on heart - this thread is the first time I've ever heard that!

SassyCow · 14/01/2026 20:18

I think I remember it being used less when I was younger but I do use it now but don't see it as swearing.

Mysticmaud · 14/01/2026 20:18

shellyleppard · 14/01/2026 19:39

I always thought it meant really tired/ broken. Not a swear word. But what about bugger?? Do others class this as a swear word

That is definitely a swear word.
Bugger is buggery a sex act and illegal until the end of the twentieth century.

Dissappearedupmyownarse · 14/01/2026 20:18

DisappointedD · 14/01/2026 19:36

I have always thought of it as a mild swear word. A word I wouldn’t want my younger children using but wouldn’t be too bothered by a teen (but not to their grandparents) type word.

There is a current radio ad using the word which made me think about it earlier. I was surprised when I heard it and didn’t think it was a word I’d heard used in ad’s before.

The context in which it is used has changed over the years to it now having lost its original meaning of tired after sex because a man's 'knackers' being used; a bit like I feel completely bollockeds (sp)
I feel most swear words have lost their energy or intended imact over the year's because of over use. Take 'bugger' for example. Its actually a very vulgar term of phrase and I feel that because most dont understand its true meaning (anal rape to save anyone a google search), they think its mild compared to fuck off....

thaisweetchill · 14/01/2026 20:17

How odd, it’s just an emphasis on tired. Not a swear word whatsoever.

Wynter25 · 14/01/2026 20:17

SoOriginal · 14/01/2026 19:49

Yes agreed on turd. That’s more a swear word in my opinion and I wouldn’t want my children to say it.

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I couldnt care less if my kids said turd.

popcornandpotatoes · 14/01/2026 20:17

rereturner · 14/01/2026 19:42

My lovely dm used to tell me off for saying that. She also didn’t let me watch Michael Barrymore’s Strike It Lucky back in the day because it was ‘common’. So I didn’t pay much attention to ‘knackered’ being a swear word but I believe it may have sexual connotations *grabs smelling salts. In the real world I think it’s fine.

I got disciplined in primary school in the 1980’s for saying ‘crap’. Had no idea some people thought this was a swear word either 🤷‍♀️

Edited

Ha that reminds me of getting told off for using the word 'crappy' in a creative writing task in year 5. I had no idea it wasn't appropriate.

And no, knackered is not a swear word and is used regularly in our house and in front of DD. DH from northern Ireland me from South London and neither of us know of it as a swear word

gemini0606 · 14/01/2026 20:17

In Scotland it most certainly is not a swear word or a rude word or even a slang word!, it’s a daily used word by well pretty much everyone from very young to very old

Simplelobsterhat · 14/01/2026 20:17

SoUncertain · 14/01/2026 20:10

Hahaha, DH and I have this argument! I think it's not a swear word, he thinks it is. He's from the Midlands if that means anything. He has asked me not to say it in front of DD, so I don't just to be considerate, but yeah, I feel it just means tired.

Interesting, the dad who told me friend off for using it was from the Midlands.

TheFireHorse · 14/01/2026 20:16

Maybe it's to do with age, I'm 60 and it was definitely a word you were not allowed to say when I was young.

I still get a little shock when I hear young kids saying it :)

Simplelobsterhat · 14/01/2026 20:15

I've never thought of it as swearing and it was used commonly when I was growing up (and my mum would tell us off for saying bloody, so certainly didn't encourage swearing). I do remember though that one of my friends came into school as a teen saying another friend's strict dad told her off for saying it when he was giving them a lift. We were all mystified about why and 30 years later am none the wiser! I think this is the first time since then I've heard it described as swearing! I'd still think of it as slang but not swearing and certainly am not surprised to hear it anywhere.

Obscurity · 14/01/2026 20:15

DisappointedD · 14/01/2026 19:39

Yes tired, but IMO not a particularly pleasant way of saying it. I do say it, but wouldn’t want my 5 year old saying it.

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It just means exhausted! It’s not a swear word.

TheSmallAssassin · 14/01/2026 20:14

I think I've been told off for using it or picked up that it was rude in some way when I was younger, so I always say "cream crackered" if I'm in polite company.

Insidemyownhead · 14/01/2026 20:14

Certainly by Scottish standards it’s not a swear word, another term for tired. Fucking knackered on the other hand..

cinquanta · 14/01/2026 20:14

Informal, not a swear word.

Do you class knackered as swearing?
nothingcangowrongnow · 14/01/2026 20:13

It means being tired from sexual activity or that’s what I was told when explained not to use it!

MajorBoobage · 14/01/2026 20:13

Definitely a very bad word in our house when I was a child/teen. Definitely not allowed to say it. My mum can be a real prude about random things which can upset her and I’ll never really understand why.

This word falls into that category because surely it’s not an actual swear word?!

martha79 · 14/01/2026 20:13

oilead · 14/01/2026 19:39

It used to mean a specific type of being tired. As in, after sex tired.

Yes, my dad told me off for using it as a teenager because of this meaning! I'd only heard it being used to mean generally tired so was very surprised.

MasterBeth · 14/01/2026 20:13

Of course it means tired.

Of course it comes from "the knacker's yard."

Of course that doesn't mean it can't also mean "tired after sex", as many people on the thread have attested to.

MNLurker1345 · 14/01/2026 20:13

I do not swear but I do occasionally say “I’m knackered”, when I dead beat tired.

Frugalgal · 14/01/2026 20:13

DisappointedD · 14/01/2026 19:36

I have always thought of it as a mild swear word. A word I wouldn’t want my younger children using but wouldn’t be too bothered by a teen (but not to their grandparents) type word.

There is a current radio ad using the word which made me think about it earlier. I was surprised when I heard it and didn’t think it was a word I’d heard used in ad’s before.

Not at all. Definitely not swearing and I would use it in any company.

shouldofgotamortage · 14/01/2026 20:13

How bizarre. Do you only talk in the old Queen’s English or something? Knackered isn’t a swear word it’s not even close.

Round111 · 14/01/2026 20:13

EmeraldShamrock000 · 14/01/2026 20:10

Point being that “chav” is no longer acceptable, knackered came from knack yard, no longer acceptable.
I don’t make the rules.

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But why is the knack yard a slur against travellers these days? Are they being called it?

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