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bollocked

(British, Irish, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) Exhausted.

ˈbɑləktDocumented since 1980s1980sGen XhistoricalCurrent198 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
1 definition
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Etymology timeline

Born ~1980 · 1 year of recorded use
1980Born2026: 1 citationToday, 2026

Definitions

UKAvoid at work
#1·Apr 26, 2026UK

(British, Irish, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) Exhausted.

I woke at 17:05 and felt totally bollocked. After a shower, I went to the NAAFI for some sarnies and orange juice.
For parents

"bollocked" is a strong or offensive slang term meaning exhausted. Teens often use words like this for shock value or to bond with peers, without fully appreciating who could be hurt by them. The concern is less the word itself and more whether it is aimed at a particular person or group. A short, matter-of-fact conversation about who hears these words and how they land is usually more effective than banning the word outright.

For ESL learners

"bollocked" is highly informal and vulgar English meaning exhausted. It is mainly heard in British English (and Irish English). A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "exhausted" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake for non-native speakers is to use "bollocked" thinking it is neutral; in fact it is rude and can offend, so avoid it in writing or in any professional setting. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

Cluster: exhausted
Heard in the wild
  • “I don’t know where you’ve been lately but ‘leadership’ is most definitely realigning us with the EU & was recently in Armenia with EU leaders working on what becomes of NATO. KS kept us out of Trump’s idiotic war & Reeves just bollocked Scott Bessent. Our future’s with Europe.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

"bollocked" is a strong or offensive slang term meaning exhausted. Teens often use words like this for shock value or to bond with peers, without fully appreciating who could be hurt by them. The concern is less the word itself and more whether it is aimed at a particular person or group. A short, matter-of-fact conversation about who hears these words and how they land is usually more effective than banning the word outright.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.

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