run someone ragged
To exhaust; to demand excessive effort or work from somebody.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The busy restaurant shift really ran me ragged today.”
“My toddler has so much energy that he runs me ragged by the end of every afternoon.”
“The demanding project manager ran his entire team ragged, insisting on constant revisions until they were all completely exhausted.”
From run and ragged, in the sense of being exhausted or run down.
- 01
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 02
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 03
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 04
break into a run
To start running.
- 05
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 06
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 07
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
- 08
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.
Last updated August 10, 2026