drain yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drain yourself" can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe someone expending all of their energy and becoming physically or emotionally drained. For example, "She was so tired from work that she drained herself completely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I slept okay in the end last night but that happens when you drain yourself taking things on board.

The Guardian - Sport

I don't believe, as many high structuralists do, that to have a formal aesthetic experience you have to drain yourself of passion".

The New York Times - Arts

You feed yourself for whatever period of time, in this case a year, and then your job is to more or less to drain yourself for whatever it is that you have to offer.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If you listen very carefully to what you are saying as you speak – to the sound of it, not just the content – you will refine it, and energise it, into a voice that charges, as opposed to one that drains yourself and others.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

If you want to try draining yourself, 28dayslater.co.uk is a good place to start".

Vice

It is much easier to fall asleep when you have drained yourself to the point where you cannot stand to stay awake any longer.

WikiHow

Never attempt to drain it yourself, as you could spread the infection to other areas.

WikiHow

Negativity can drain energy from yourself and those around you, which can negatively affect your employees' productivity and work quality.

Forbes

If you are able to get to a doctor within 48 hours, you should seriously consider doing so without attempting to drain the ear yourself.

WikiHow

As the surface of the boil softens and fills with pus, it may be tempting to burst the skin with a needle and drain the contents yourself.

WikiHow

drain the tub and rinse yourself with lukewarm water in the shower.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drain yourself" when you want to emphasize the act of completely depleting one's physical, emotional, or mental energy. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning of exhaustion.

Common error

Avoid using "drain yourself" when describing external factors causing exhaustion. Instead of saying "The situation drained yourself", use "The situation drained you" or "You were drained by the situation". This clarifies the cause and effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drain yourself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the action of draining is directed back to the subject. As noted by Ludwig AI, this implies expending all of one's energy until depleted. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts of taking things on board or offering something, indicating a complete giving of oneself.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drain yourself" describes the action of completely depleting one's energy or resources. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its meaning relates to becoming physically or emotionally exhausted. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is understandable and is mostly found in neutral to informal contexts such as News & Media and Wiki articles. When using "drain yourself", be mindful of its reflexive nature, ensuring the subject is the one performing the act of draining upon themselves. While synonyms like "exhaust yourself" or "deplete your energy" exist, "drain yourself" offers a specific emphasis on the thoroughness of the depletion process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exhaust yourself

Focuses more on the physical depletion of energy through exertion.

deplete your energy

Highlights the reduction of available energy reserves.

wear yourself out

Suggests a gradual process of becoming tired and weary.

sap your strength

Emphasizes the gradual loss of physical power.

leave you drained

Shifts the perspective to the resulting state of being depleted.

burn yourself out

Implies overworking to the point of exhaustion and potential long-term consequences.

empty your reserves

Focuses on the complete exhaustion of available resources.

use up all your energy

Directly states the consumption of energy resources.

draw down your resources

Implies taking from a limited supply until it's diminished.

push yourself to the limit

Highlights the act of exceeding one's normal capacity, leading to potential depletion.

FAQs

How can I use "drain yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "drain yourself" to describe the act of completely exhausting your physical, emotional, or mental energy. For example, "After the marathon, I completely drained myself".

What does it mean to "drain yourself"?

To "drain yourself" means to deplete all of your energy, resources, or strength, leaving you feeling exhausted or empty. It suggests a complete and thorough emptying of one's reserves.

What are some synonyms for "drain yourself"?

Some synonyms for "drain yourself" include "exhaust yourself", "deplete your energy", and "wear yourself out". Each carries a slightly different nuance regarding the type and extent of exhaustion.

Is it always negative to "drain yourself"?

While often associated with negative consequences like exhaustion, "drain yourself" can sometimes describe a deliberate act for a greater purpose. For example, an athlete might "drain themselves" during a competition to achieve a goal, understanding the temporary nature of the depletion.