Wear out one's welcome
Meaning
To stay as a guest or visitor for so long that one's hosts become tired of one's presence or hospitality becomes strained.
Origin
The phrase hinges on the verb 'wear,' which by the 16th century had developed the sense of diminishing or exhausting something through prolonged use, much like clothing. When applied to 'welcome,' it creates a vivid social metaphor: hospitality, like a garment, can be 'worn thin' or 'worn out.' It paints a picture of a host's initial warmth and generosity as a finite resource that, though perhaps abundant at first, inevitably fades or becomes frayed with an overlong visit, leading to a subtle—or not so subtle—desire for the guest to depart.
Examples
- After an extended stay, Aunt Carol worried she might wear out her welcome, so she booked her flight home for the following week.
- The new employee, though talented, tended to monopolize the coffee machine and started to wear out his welcome with the team.