Hillbilly Slang

Authentic sayings, folk stories, and mountain wisdom.

zonked out

"Zonked out" means totally exhausted or fast asleep. It’s more modern American slang than old Appalachian, but it’s a phrase plenty of folks in the hills still use.

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Pronunciation

[ZAWNKT out]

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Meaning & Usage

- To fall asleep quickly (verb phrase)

After work
Mae:
Where’s Earl?

Ruby:
He zonked out in the recliner soon as he sat down.

- To be extremely tired or exhausted (verb phrase)

End of the day
Mae:
These young’uns are zonked out from playin’ in the creek.

Earl:
Good - maybe they’ll sleep all night.

other spellings: zonk out, passed out, asleep, out cold, dog-tired, plumb wore out, ``dead to the world``, and ``knocked out``
★ "Zonked out" sounds a little more modern than old-time mountain talk, but it fits in easy - folks use it right alongside words like "plumb wore out" or "tuckered out." ★

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