Forswunk

To be forswunk means to be totally worn out from overwork. It’s from forswink, meaning to exhaust by labor. This is part of a complete episode.

Transcript of “Forswunk”

I don’t know how I lived all these years without knowing the word for swunk.

I don’t know it either.

Yay!

For swunk.

You’re going to love this.

Is this a past tense form of for swear?

No, it’s a past tense of for swink.

I also don’t know.

For swink.

Is this golf?

No, no, no.

This is when the ball goes backward instead of forward.

I don’t know what a forswink is.

It’s F-O-R-S-W-I-N-K, forswink, which means to overwork.

And so if you’re forswunk, then you’re totally worn out from work.

And those are words that were around right after Middle English.

Forswink.

Oh, okay.

Very nice.

I am totally forswunk.

Forswunk.

You have too much work.

Swamped by work.

In the weeds.

You’re worn out.

It’s the idea of being exhausted from work.

Honey, I just got home and I’m totally for swamp.

Right.

You need to rest your dogs.

Yes.

But the dog needs walking, so.

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