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.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Out' always follows zonk or zonked - like 'zonked out' Pronunciation
[ZAWNKT out]
Meaning & Usage
- To fall asleep quickly (verb phrase)
Mae:
Where’s Earl?
Where’s Earl?
Ruby:
He zonked out in the recliner soon as he sat down.
He zonked out in the recliner soon as he sat down.- To be extremely tired or exhausted (verb phrase)
Mae:
These young’uns are zonked out from playin’ in the creek.
These young’uns are zonked out from playin’ in the creek.
Earl:
Good - maybe they’ll sleep all night.
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." ★
Origin
"Zonk" first showed up in mid-20th century American slang as a comic-book style sound effect (like "wham" or "pow"). By the 1940s-50s, "zonk out" meant to pass out or fall asleep. The phrase spread widely, including into Appalachian and Southern speech.
Notes
Not uniquely Appalachian, but widely used in everyday mountain talk. Often interchangeable with older phrases like "wore out," "tuckered out," or "out cold."
Say It Like a Southerner
The first part should rhyme with lawn: "zawnked," then "out" - which almost has two syllables.