Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US) tedious, clichéd, thus T.A.S., ‘tired-ass syndrome’.

1994		G. Pelecanos Shoedog 188: ‘You in the lounge, man? I can hear that tired-ass funk’.
2003		Times Picayune (LA) 21 Nov. 🌐 Duran has always had a sense of humor, which has really been lacking. Rock is in such a tired-ass state at the moment.
2003		Hattiesburg American (MS) 11 June 16/5: He told his band leader [...] that he had ‘T.A.S., or ‘tired-ass syndrome’.
2018		Arizona Dly Star (Tucson, AZ) 7 Oct. 4/2: ASctress Candice Bergen had the last al.ugh [...] She had ‘Tired-Ass Honky Ho’ embroidered on a throw pillow.

(orig. US black) weak or displeasing people.

1983

R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Sl. [unpub. ms.].

(US black) a woman who lacks sophistication.

1983

R. Klein Jailhouse Jargon and Street Sl. [unpub. ms.].

a sarcastic description of a congenitally lazy person, e.g. you have to forgive him, he was born tired.

1888		Gloucester Citizen 7 June 4/1: He described it as one [...] ‘born a bit tired’.
1890–1904		Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 18 Mar. 2/6: Most of the ladies had pretty faces, but [...] their whole appearance gave one the impression that they had been born tired.
1899		R. Whiteing No. 5 John Street 220: ‘The fact is, myte,’ he says, in a burst of confidence, ‘I was born tired, an’ I don’t seem ible to settle down to this ’ere ring-yer-in in the mornin’, an’ ring-yer-out at night.’.
1906		Western Times 24 Dec. 5/7: Defendant: No one can help feeling tired. Plaintiff: You were born tired.
1909		J. Ware Passing Eng. of the Victorian Era 44/1: Born a bit tired (Soc. 1870 on). Sarcastic excuse for a chronically lazy man.
1911		Gloucester Citizen 10 May 2/2: The problem of the men and women who have been born a bit tired [...] The Chancellor speaks of these people as the malingerers.
1918		Nottingham Eve. Post 1 May 2/3: He belongas to the born-tired variety: I never saw a more filthy-looking wretch.
1926		W. Pett Ridge London Types 77: It is customary to speak of the lounger as belonging to the ‘born tireds’.
1941		P.C. Wren Odd – But Even So 19: He put in a teaspoon of sugar and patiently stirred the contents of the glass. ‘There you are, Born-Tired,’ he said.
1943		Cornishman 1 Apr. 8/1: I wance ad an uncle called Nicholas John [...] An’ they said as to failen’s ee ’ad awnly wan — An’ that was that he was born-tired.

(Aus.) a joc. euph. for a state of drunkenness.

1900

Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Feb. 15/1: The passenger – there is sometimes one – dangerously bad with that tired feeling, usually sits on the verandah at end of carriage, with feet dangling over the footboard; or an ‘occasional,’ not too bad with the ‘feeling,’ will betake himself to the van and have a chat with the guard. [Ibid.] 20 Oct. 14/2: The boss was lying in front of the door and I had to step over him to gain admittance. He was, doubtless, suffering from ‘that tired feeling.’.

a euph. for extremely drunk.

1986		R. Beckett Dinkum Aussie Dict. 53: Tired and emotional: Blind drunk.
1999		‘Hashing on Board’ in ‘Royal Milan & Bordighera H3 Newsletter’ on Farenheit451.it 🌐 After a hearty meal in a Tratt organised by the Capt., copious amounts of vino collapso (and a food fight) our skipper became ‘tired and emotional.’.
2002		Guardian 17 Sept. 🌐 ‘We couldn’t get a foothold in Middlesbrough because what we were offering was completely unremarkable. There are clubs there offering vodka shots at 50p all night long,’ explains the company’s operations manager, Dan Norman. He is at pains to point out how well supervised typical VodBull events are, with staff on hand to assist the ‘tired and emotional’ and a medical suite at one venue.

see under blood n.¹

(orig. US) to irritate someone, to bore; usu. as dismissive phr. you make me tired.

1883		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 1 Dec. 6/2: ‘What’s it worth to you for me and you to walk round opposite corners?’ [...] ‘Thirty dollars’ [...] ‘I’m tired,’ was his only response.
1888		Stag Party n.p.: ‘Why am I like a journey long?’ / He asked her, blushing red; / ‘I do not know, unless it's that / You make me tired,’ she said.
1889		Dead Bird (Sydney) 3 Aug. 3/1: Talk sense, do. You make me tired.
1892		S. Crane in N.-Y. Trib. 10 July in Stallman (1966) 5: ‘Some folks make me tired,’ said the second van driver.
1895		J.L. Williams Princeton Stories 47: To them Jack turned with some heat, and observed, ‘You fellows make me tired.’.
1903		‘O. Henry’ ‘The Atavism of John Tom Little Bear’ in Rolling Stones (1913) 43: What’s the matter with — aw, you make me tired, Jeff.
1905		Sun. Times (Perth) 8 Jan. 1/1: The sickly gush in the dailies about the tinpot Councils makes one tired.
1907		M.C. Harris Tents of Wickedness 200: ‘He makes me tired!’ exclaimed Leonora, who had imbibed a little slang in these two months.
1910		Sun. Times (Perth) 23 Jan. 2nd sect. 2/5: These post-contest excuses make us tired.
1911		E.B. Morris Junior 11: Moore. That bunch of Seniors mkes me weary.
1915		Van Loan ‘The Extra Man’ in Buck Parvin 20: ‘You make me tired,’ said Tommy.
1918		W.J. Schira diary 13 Dec. 🌐 My Ward is like a nut house. Always a bunch of men sneaking around and coming in to spoon with the nurses. They make my ass tired with their love affairs.
1919		Van Loan ‘The Bone Doctor’ in Score by Innings (2004) 360: The party who makes me tired is the swelled-up bush pitcher who hasn’t done anything yet and ain’t sure he can, but is proud [etc.].
1927		(con. 1900s) S. Lewis Elmer Gantry 171: What they [i.e. preachers] get away with, pretending to be different [...] would make you gentlemen tired if you knew.
1930		B. De Beck Barney Google [comic strip] Oh you two make me tired.
1987		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 9: you make my butt tired – insult aimed at vain people.