What is the meaning of the phrase ‘emotional wreck’?
Someone who is or was feeling very sad, or desperate because of something bad that has happened to them. Someone who has lost control of their emotions and has become unstable and unable to function.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘emotional wreck’?
The word ‘emotional’, derived from the word ‘emotion’ has its roots in the Latin word “emovere,” which means “to agitate.” While the word wreck is derived from the Old English word “wrec” which meant something cast ashore after a shipwreck. Over time the meaning of the word ‘wreck’ expanded to refer to anything that’s in a destroyed, ruined and damaged state.
It is believed by some that people began combining the words ‘emotional’ and ‘wreck’ between 1865 and 1870, to refer to someone who’s in a desperate emotional state following something they’ve recently been through.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘emotional wreck’?
The phrase ‘emotional wreck’ is in frequent use to this day. It appears in the novel ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by Stephen Chbosky published in 1999. There are also two songs titled ‘Emotional Wreck’ one by Zoë Badwi released in 2010, and one by K. Michelle released in 2014.
The phrase has also been used by many public figures and celebrities, including Michelle Obama, Prince Harry, Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande to describe their various struggles.
