PhrasesHub

wore on

    Definitions

      • irritate or annoy
        To cause increasing irritation or annoyance over time

      • pass or elapse
        To continue or progress, especially when referring to time

    Examples of wore on

    • The win at the Oscars wore heavily on the actress's shoulders for weeks.

      After winning the Academy Award for Best Actress, the intense pressure and scrutiny of being in the spotlight weighed heavily on the actress's mind and caused her emotional distress.

    • The captain's nagging injuries wore on the team's chances of success during the crucial phase of the tournament.

      As the captain suffered from persistent injuries that restricted his mobility and effectiveness on the field, the team's chances of winning the tournament were significantly hampered.

    • The weight of the debt wore heavily on the small business owner, leading to mounting stress and anxiety as he struggled to make ends meet.

      As the business owner's financial situation grew more and more precarious due to accumulated debt, he began to feel the emotional and psychological strain of his predicament.

    • The long parliamentary proceedings wore on the MP's patience and focus, leading to moments of confusion and disengagement during the debate.

      As the drawn-out parliamentary proceedings dragged on, the MP's attention and focus wavered due to fatigue and boredom, leading to occasional lapses in attention during the debate.

    • After her divorce, her heartbreak seemed to wear on her, as she appeared exhausted and emotionally drained in social situations.

      The expression 'wear on (someone)' means to cause emotional or physical exhaustion or strain on someone. In this example, the heartbreak of the divorce caused the woman to show signs of emotional and physical exhaustion in social situations.

    • The long and stressful work project wore on the entire team, leaving them exhausted and drained of energy.

      In this example, the expression 'wear on (someone)' is used to illustrate the emotional and physical exhaustion that the team experienced as a result of the long and stressful work project.

    • The heavy rainstorm wore on the city, causing traffic chaos and flooding in many areas.

      In this example, the expression 'wear on (someone)' is used more literally to describe the impact of the heavy rainstorm on the city. The rainstorm was causing traffic chaos and flooding, which was wearing on the city.

    • The houseguest's constant chatter and noise seemed to wear on the host's nerves, as they appeared annoyed and irritated in the guest's presence.

      In this example, the expression 'wear on (someone)' is used to describe the impact of the houseguest's behavior on the host's emotions. The constant chatter and noise was wearing on the host's nerves, causing them to appear annoyed and irritated in the guest's presence.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "wore on" can be used to describe both the act of causing irritation or annoyance over time, as well as the progression or passing of time. When someone says "the situation wore on," they could be referring to the fact that it became increasingly irritating or frustrating as time passed. On the other hand, if someone says "the day wore on," they are indicating that the day continued or progressed.

    Origin of "wore on"

    The origin of the idiom "wore on" can be traced back to the literal meaning of the word "wear," which refers to the gradual deterioration or erosion of something over time. In the case of the idiom, "wore on" likely evolved from this concept of gradual wearing down or passage of time. Over time, it became a figurative way to describe the increasing irritation or annoyance that can occur as time passes. The idiom has been used in English language for centuries, and it continues to be a common way to express the passage of time and the build-up of irritation.

    Examples of the idiom "wore on" can be found in literary works, such as "As the meeting wore on, tensions continued to rise" or "The day wore on, and we still hadn't reached our destination."