What Does “Tire of sth” Mean?
“Tire of sth” means to become bored or annoyed with something after experiencing it for a while.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “tire of sth” is commonly used to express feelings of boredom or frustration towards a person, activity, or situation. When someone says they “tire of something,” they mean they no longer enjoy it as they once did. This phrase is useful in everyday conversations where emotions about repeated experiences or ongoing situations are shared. Understanding the “tire of sth” meaning helps learners communicate feelings clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Tire of something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To become bored or annoyed with something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Tire of” is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot place the object between “tire” and “of.”
Correct pattern:
- Subject + tire + of + object
Example: She tires of the same routine quickly.
Incorrect: She tires the same routine of quickly.
How to Use Tire of sth?
Use “tire of sth” when you want to express that you or someone else is losing interest or patience with something. It often appears in present simple or past simple tenses but can be used in other tenses as well.
Commonly, the object after “of” is a noun or gerund (verb + -ing) indicating the activity or thing causing boredom.
Examples
Here are some sentences using “tire of sth” in context:
- After a few months, he tired of playing video games every day.
- People often tire of eating the same food repeatedly.
- She quickly tired of waiting for the bus in the cold.
- Many students tire of studying the same subject for too long.
- They tired of the noisy neighbors and decided to move.
These examples show how to use “tire of sth” in a sentence naturally.
Common Mistakes
Some learners confuse “tire of sth” with similar phrases or make grammar errors.
Incorrect: I tire the homework of every day.
Correct: I tire of the homework every day.
Incorrect: She tires on watching TV.
Correct: She tires of watching TV.
Remember, always use “tire of” followed by the object directly after “of.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Tire of sth” is similar to “get bored with” or “lose interest in,” but it often implies a stronger sense of annoyance or fatigue.
- Get bored with: More general, can be temporary.
- Lose interest in: Focuses on declining curiosity or attention.
- Tire of: Suggests emotional or mental exhaustion with something.
Example: She got bored with the movie, but she really tired of the long wait.
Common Collocations
People often use “tire of” with activities or situations that become repetitive or unpleasant.
- Tire of work: Feeling exhausted or bored by job tasks.
- Tire of waiting: Losing patience while waiting.
- Tire of noise: Becoming annoyed by loud sounds.
- Tire of a routine: Boredom from doing the same things repeatedly.
- Tire of someone: Losing patience or interest in a person’s behavior.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of tire of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a natural conversation using “tire of sth”:
Anna: I’m starting to tire of eating out every night.
John: Yeah, it gets boring after a while. Maybe we should cook at home more.
Anna: Good idea! I’m definitely tired of restaurant food.
Practice
Try completing the sentences with the correct form of “tire of”:
- She __________ (tire) of watching the same TV show every day.
- He quickly __________ (tire) of his new hobby.
- We might __________ (tire) of waiting if the bus is late again.
Answers: tires, tired, tire
FAQ
- What does “tire of sth” mean? It means to become bored or annoyed with something.
- Is “tire of” separable? No, it is inseparable; the object must come after “of.”
- Can I use “tire of” with people? Yes, you can tire of a person’s behavior if it annoys you.
- What is a synonym for “tire of sth”? “Get bored with” or “lose interest in” are similar phrases.
- Is “tire of” formal or informal? It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
