adjective
B2
Upper-Intermediate
fed up
fed UP
Fed up (adjective) means Annoyed, bored or unhappy about a situation that has gone on too long. Example: “I'm fed up with the constant delays on this line.”
adjective
1
informal Annoyed, bored or unhappy about a situation that has gone on too long.
"I'm fed up with the constant delays on this line."
"She was fed up and handed in her notice."
2
informal In a low, flat mood for no single obvious reason.
"He has been a bit fed up since the weather turned."
How to use fed up
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishYou have had enough of something and it is getting to you.
When to use it
Informal but perfectly polite in speech and casual writing. The second sense, meaning generally low in spirits, is chiefly British.
Memory tip
Standard English prefers fed up with, though fed up of is common in speech in Britain. Hyphenate it when it comes before a noun, as in a fed-up expression.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fed up with
fed up of
thoroughly fed up
sick and fed up
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I'm _____ with the constant delays on this line.
Etymology
See the etymology at the corresponding lemma form.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
Is it fed up with or fed up of?
Fed up with is the established standard form and the safer choice in writing. Fed up of is widespread in informal British speech and is increasingly heard, but some readers still treat it as an error.
What is the difference between fed up and angry?
Anger is a sharp reaction to something that has just happened. Being fed up is duller and slower, built up by something repeating or dragging on, and it tends to end in walking away rather than shouting.
Where does the phrase fed up come from?
It draws on the image of being so thoroughly fed that you cannot take another mouthful, and so want no more of what is being offered. The link to overfeeding is clear from the wording itself, though the exact route into everyday slang is not documented.
What is the meaning of fed up?
"fed up" (adjective) means annoyed, bored or unhappy about a situation that has gone on too long.
