What it means
Used when you’re completely wiped out, like someone’s pulled your plug. It’s stronger than just tired or sleepy, more knackered, mentally fried, and running on fumes. You’ll hear it after a long shift, a grim commute, or too much peopling. Can also mean you’re a bit stunned by news, but the vibe is still drained.
Usage examples
"I’m proper zapped after that shift, mate. Brain’s fried and my legs are jelly. I’m skipping the pub, going home for a brew and bed."
"Three back-to-back Teams calls, two passive aggressive emails and a deadline at six. I am proper zapped, the kettle is going on for the fourth time and the dog is judging me from the rug."
"After the school run, the supermarket dash and the dentist for the twins, I was completely zapped by lunchtime, lay on the sofa and let the cat sit on my face for half an hour."
Where it comes from
Zap began life as an onomatopoeic word in American superhero comic strips of the nineteen-thirties, the sound of ray guns and lightning bolts hitting their target. By the nineteen-seventies the verb had drifted into electronics talk for sudden bursts of current, and from there into everyday slang for being drained, stunned or fried. Brits picked up the past participle zapped as the perfect single word for the state of feeling like a phone on three percent at the end of a long Wednesday.
Other ways to say it
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.