Phrase "tired as a newt"

[Nessie]

Hi,

Is "tired as a newt" a fixed expression? Does it simply mean very tired?
And... why is a newt so tired?
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Jamie (K)]

That expression is completely new to me.

[Haihao]

Not a very good expression but "as pissed as a newt" = "very drunk" is commonly used.

[Stew.t.]

[Molly]

[Molly]

It's good enough for Hansard:

Mrs Carnell: Is this a supplementary question?

MR BERRY: You might think you pull the strings on the Speaker, but I can assure you that you do not. Mr Speaker, as you referred to members as being tired, will you advise the Assembly of which members you were accusing of being tired? Or is it the case that a Liberal MLA in this chamber was as tired as a newt?

http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/welcome.htm

And the parliament of NSW:

Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is far too much interjection. I ask members to co-operate by listening to the Premier in silence. Order! I call the honourable member for Ashfield to order.

Mr FAHEY: My observations indicated that the former Minister for Police was certainly emotional and tired. In fact, it would be fair to say that the former Minister for Police was as tired as a newt. He clearly had been affected by the events of the day. In the context of that, certain things were said. He has subsequently indicated clearly the meaning that he attributed to those statements.

It's good enough for me.

[Haihao]

[Nessie]

Thanks all. I remember coming across "tired as a newt" in the BNC.
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Jamie (K)]

[Yankee]

[Nessie]

Hihi, English expressions are sometimes so funny. How can a newt be so pissed or tired?
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[NinaZara]

This reminds me of the first time I learned about newt in the film Matilda. There was a scene where Miss Trenchbull was 'attacked' by a newt and she kept referring to the newt as snake, so Matilda corrected her and told her that it was not a snake, but a newt.

One thing I noticed about the newt is, it was always trying to keep its head up above the water. Maybe that was what tiring it up!

Good, now I remember the expression for good
_________________
Try your best and damn the rest.

[Haihao]

[MrPedantic]

1. As pissed as a newt = drunk
2. Tired and emotional = drunk (euphemism)

Thus:

3. As tired as a newt = drunk (inverted euphemism)

("Inverted" because on "newt" you reinterpret "tired" as "pissed".)

e.g. (from Google):

4. Being as tired as a newt I went to my tent and was asleep in no time at all.

The reader is expected to understand that this was a special kind of tiredness.

MrP

[Haihao]