What it means
Used when you're completely wiped, mentally cooked, or just out of charge. It's stronger than plain tired. You say you're zapped after a brutal shift, too much admin, a long day of peopleing, or bad news that leaves your head empty. It can mean stunned too, but the main flavour is drained.
Usage examples
"I’m proper zapped after that shift, mate. Brain’s fried and my legs are jelly. I’m skipping the pub, going home for a brew and bed."
"Three back-to-back Teams calls, two passive aggressive emails and a deadline at six. I am proper zapped, the kettle is going on for the fourth time and the dog is judging me from the rug."
"After the school run, the supermarket dash and the dentist for the twins, I was completely zapped by lunchtime, lay on the sofa and let the cat sit on my face for half an hour."
"I was absolutely zapped after doing the late shift and then standing on a packed train home. Didn't even take my shoes off, just face-planted onto the sofa."
"She's not ignoring you, she's just zapped. Give her ten minutes, a cup of tea, and maybe her soul will log back in."
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Where it comes from
"Zap" showed up first as a comic-strip sound effect in the 1930s for blasts, lightning hits, and sci-fi energy shots. By the 1960s it had jumped into everyday English for something sudden, sharp, or draining. From there, "zapped" settled into meaning totally wiped out, mentally fried, or left with no juice.
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