WordGarden.iotucker
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈʌkə/
US
- /ˈtəkər/
Meanings
Noun
food, especially provisions or a meal
Beyond the definition
This word has two common paths. In everyday American English, it usually appears in the phrase "tuckered out," which means very tired or completely worn out after effort. You might picture a child or a dog after a long, happy day, ready to fall asleep right away. It has a warm, informal feel, and people often use it for children, pets, or anyone tired in a simple, natural way.
In Australian and New Zealand English, it can also mean food or supplies for eating. "Bush tucker," for example, refers to food from the local land or traditional foods. So one person might say, "The kids were all tuckered out after the trip," while another might say, "We packed some tucker for the road."
This word carries two main meanings, and the context usually makes the difference clear. In American English, the verb means to tire someone out, and it is most often heard in the form "tuckered out" or "all tuckered out." In that sense, it describes deep, natural tiredness after work, play, travel, or any other effort. A child after a birthday party, a farmer after a long day, or a dog after hours of running can all be described this way. The tone is informal, gentle, and often a little affectionate.
People do not usually choose it for serious fatigue, illness, or formal writing. Instead, it suggests the kind of tiredness that follows activity: "That hike really tuckered me out," or "By evening, everyone was tuckered out." The shorter form "tuckered" also appears, but "tuckered out" is much more common. This sense comes from an older regional verb meaning to exhaust or wear out.
The noun has a separate life in Australian and New Zealand English, where it means food, a meal, or eating supplies. It can refer to ordinary camp food, packed provisions, or local traditional foods, as in "bush tucker." In that variety of English, someone might say, "We brought plenty of tucker," meaning they brought enough food. This food sense is fully separate from the tiredness sense, even though the same spelling is used.
So the word can point either to being worn out or to something to eat. If you see "tuckered out," think of tiredness. If you see it used as a noun in Australian or New Zealand contexts, think of food.
Examples
- 1
Camping food
We brought our own tucker for the camping trip.
- Usagetucker
food, especially in Australian and New Zealand English
- 2
Pub food
The pub is simple, but the tucker is excellent.
- 3
Bush foods
The guide taught us about bush tucker as we walked through the national park.
- Phrasebush tucker
wild foods traditionally found and eaten in the Australian bush
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- tuckernounverb