fed up

USAGE SUMMARY

'fed up' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It means that a person has lost patience or has had enough of something. For example: "I'm fed up with waiting in line all day. Can we go somewhere else?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fed up injecting, fed up being tired.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

We are fed up".

The New Yorker

Americans are "completely fed up".

The Guardian

The soldiers are fed up!

The New York Times

"The people are fed up".

The New York Times

"People are just fed up".

The New York Times

"I'm fed up," she said.

The New York Times

The students are fed up!

The New York Times

He was fed up Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're fed up," Sank said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

-- a fed-up irritability.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow the phrase with the preposition 'with' when specifying the source of frustration (e.g. "fed up with the bureaucracy").

Common error

Avoid using 'from' or 'of' after "fed up". While you might be 'tired of' something, you are always 'fed up with' it. Incorrect: "I'm fed up of this weather." Correct: "I'm fed up with this weather."

Linguistic Context

"Fed up" functions as a compound adjective phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used as a predicate to describe a subject's mental or emotional state of being finished with a nuisance. It typically appears after linking verbs like "be", "get", or "feel".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki & General Knowledge

8%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Reference

0.5%

Social Media

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fed up" is an essential idiomatic phrase in the English language for expressing frustration. Ludwig AI confirms it is perfectly acceptable for most writing contexts, particularly in journalism and professional environments. It is most effective when followed by the preposition "with" to indicate the cause of irritation. While it is widely used and easily understood, writers should be mindful of its slightly informal tone and consider more clinical alternatives in strictly academic or legal settings. Its prevalence in top-tier publications like The New York Times and The Economist underscores its validity as a standard expression of emotional exhaustion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sick of

Uses a more visceral, colloquial metaphor for exhaustion.

tired of

Slightly more literal and less intense than being fed up.

had enough

Emphasizes reaching a definitive breaking point in patience.

exasperated

A more formal adjective focusing on intense irritation.

had it up to here

A highly idiomatic expression often accompanied by a physical gesture.

disgruntled

Commonly applied to employees or customers who are dissatisfied.

weary of

Suggests a long-term exhaustion rather than sudden annoyance.

disgusted with

Adds a layer of moral or aesthetic aversion to the frustration.

done with

Signals a complete withdrawal or termination of a relationship or task.

impatient with

Focuses on the lack of time or desire to wait any longer.

FAQs

How do I use "fed up" in a sentence?

You use "fed up" to describe feeling annoyed or bored by something that has continued for too long. For example: "The residents are "fed up" with the noise from the construction site."

What can I say instead of "fed up"?

Depending on the intensity, you can use phrases like "sick of", "had enough", or "tired of".

Should "fed up" be hyphenated?

Use a hyphen only when the phrase acts as an adjective before a noun, such as "a "fed-up" employee". When it follows a verb, as in "she is "fed up"", do not use a hyphen.

Is "fed up" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral to informal. While frequently found in reputable journalism like "The New York Times", it may be too colloquial for formal scientific abstracts or legal briefs.