# tapped

/ˈtæpt/ (US) · /tˈæpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tapped
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. hit lightly

verb · CEFR A2

hit something quickly and lightly, often making a small sound.

For teachers: the past tense of tap, meaning to strike a surface with a light, rhythmic blow.

- He tapped on the window to get my attention while I was reading.
- The drummer tapped out a complex rhythm on the edge of the snare drum during the jazz solo.

### 2. crazy or eccentric

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · British English

acting in a strange, silly, or crazy way.

For teachers: denoting someone who is mentally unstable, eccentric, or acting irrationally.

- You must be tapped if you think I'm going out in this storm.
- The locals thought the old hermit was completely tapped because he spent his afternoons talking to the seagulls.

Teaching tip: Common in British and London-based slang; it can range from lighthearted teasing to a genuine insult about someone's mental state.

### 3. monitored by police

adjective · CEFR B2

when a phone or room has a secret device to listen to conversations.

For teachers: subject to a wiretap or covert electronic surveillance.

- The criminal was careful what he said because he suspected his phone was tapped.
- Detectives obtained a warrant to ensure the suspect's landline was tapped throughout the duration of the investigation.

### 4. exhausted or used up

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

having no energy or resources left.

For teachers: depleted of resources, energy, or funds; often used in the phrase 'tapped out'.

- I'm completely tapped out after working twelve hours straight.
- By the end of the month, the charity's emergency fund was entirely tapped, leaving them unable to assist new applicants.

### 5. connected to a source

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

connected to a supply of something, like water or information.

For teachers: fitted with a tap or connected to a source of supply to draw off liquid or data.

- The engineers tapped into the main water line to supply the new building.
- The hackers successfully tapped into the secure server, gaining access to thousands of encrypted files.

## Examples

- He is completely tapped if he thinks that will work.
- The guy was acting totally tapped, shouting at pigeons in the middle of the park during rush hour.
- While his earlier theories were merely unconventional, his latest claims about secret underground civilizations have led most of his colleagues to conclude that he has gone completely tapped.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.