Turn into a pumpkin

An idiom meaning a person can't keep going, usually due to being too tired. Usually used to say one can't keep going after midnight.

It's too late for me, I turn into a pumpkin at midnight.

Turn into a pumpkin by Nazareno June 5, 2022

turn into a pumpkin

To have one's ride suddenly become unavailable, generally because it is "too late" according to parents, local laws, or public transit authorities. Generally used in the future tense, to describe the time later in the night at which point an individual will be depending on someone else for transportation.

Contrary to what one might expect, the person themselves turns into a pumpkin, rather than the ride itself.

-Can we see the 9:15 showing instead of the 11? I just got my license, so I turn into a pumpkin at midnight.

-I'm turning into a pumpkin at 2 AM because the stupid subway shuts down, but if someone brings a car, I'm in.

turn into a pumpkin by hjfreyerdos October 19, 2010