all the worse for wear

all the worse for wear

Shabby or beat-up from use. People sometimes use this phrase to describe themselves after enduring something emotionally or physically taxing. The books that were in my bag when I got caught in the downpour look all the worse for wear now. I'm afraid they might fall apart altogether! The nights of sleep deprivation with a newborn have left me all the worse for wear—I could fall asleep standing up!See also: all, wear, worse