- Hyperbolic expressions meaning extremely bored.
- Suggests the boredom is so intense it could lead to crying (tears) or dying (death).
Explanation
Origin
- Similar to scared to death, these are common hyperboles using exaggeration for emphasis.
- Bored to tears implies a level of frustration or misery accompanying the boredom.
- Bored to death emphasizes the extreme lack of stimulation or interest.
- Both likely evolved naturally as intensifiers for the feeling of boredom.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Snoozefest (Describing the boring event/thing)
- Yawnfest (Similar to snoozefest)
- Dead (Slang for boring, unexciting, e.g., This party is dead.)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Bored shitless
- Bored out of my fucking mind
Milder:
- Very bored
- Extremely dull
- Utterly tedious
- Uninspired
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Using hyperbole like this is generally avoided in formal settings, where tedious, unengaging, or monotonous might be preferred.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The hyperbole (tears, death) is usually obvious from context and unlikely to be taken literally.
Examples
- The lecture was so long, I was bored to tears.
- If I have to sit through another meeting like that, I'll be bored to death.
- The kids were bored to tears waiting for the bus.
Dialogue
Leo: How was the conference call?
Mia: Ugh, don't ask. Three hours of listening to quarterly reports. I was bored to death.
Leo: Oh man, that sounds rough. I feel you.
Mia: Seriously. I need coffee, stat.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Stuck in traffic again... bored to death. Send memes! #trafficjam #bored
- Facebook Status: This rainy Sunday has me bored to tears. Any movie suggestions?
- Instagram Story Poll: Rate my level of boredom waiting for this download: A) Bored B) Bored to tears C) Bored to death
Response Patterns
- Oh no, that sounds awful.
- Tell me about it. (Expressing agreement/shared experience)
- Why, what were you doing?
- Maybe you should find something else to do.
- I know the feeling.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says they are bored to tears/death:
- Express sympathy: That sounds tedious., Poor you.
- Ask about the cause: What was so boring?
- Suggest a solution: Let's do something fun instead., Why don't you take a break?
After receiving sympathy or a suggestion:
- The bored person might agree, complain further, or accept the suggestion.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Typically a complaint or description of a current or past state.
Intonation
- Emphasis on BORED to TEARS/DEATH.
- Often said with a flat, sighing, or complaining tone.
Generation Differences
- Understood and used across all generations. Very common idioms.
Regional Variations
- Widely used in all major English-speaking regions.