Slang for Drunk

Welcome to the Slangpedia entry on “drunk”!🍻😵


“Exploring the colorful jargon tied to intoxication and revelry? From storytelling to casual conversations, understanding the slang terms, words, and their meanings related to “buzzed”, “tipsy”, or “wasted” can be both fun and informative. Without further ado, here’s our comprehensive guide to slang terms for ‘drunk’, peppered with related phrases and expressions from cultures around the globe:

Hammered

  • Meaning: Very drunk.
  • Origin: The term “hammered” implies being hit or struck hard, metaphorically suggesting the impact of alcohol.
  • Usage: “After those five beers, he was completely hammered.”

Wasted

  • Meaning: Extremely drunk.
  • Origin: Implies that someone is so drunk that they’re no longer useful or functional.
  • Usage: “She got wasted at the party last night.”

Tipsy

  • Meaning: Slightly drunk.
  • Origin: From the word “tip” implying an unsteady or off-balance position.
  • Usage: “I’m feeling a bit tipsy after that glass of wine.”

Lit

  • Meaning: Drunk or under the influence of drugs.
  • Origin: Originally meant “intoxicated by alcohol” in the 1910s. Later, it broadened in the 2000s to represent being high on excitement or intoxicated by drugs.
  • Usage: “The whole crew was lit last night.”

Plastered

  • Meaning: Very drunk.
  • Origin: Possibly derived from the notion of being “hit” or “struck” by the effects of alcohol, as if one was hit with a plaster.
  • Usage: “He was plastered by midnight.”

Smashed

  • Meaning: Extremely drunk.
  • Origin: Similar to “hammered,” it indicates being impacted heavily by alcohol.
  • Usage: “She got absolutely smashed at the party.”

Buzzed

  • Meaning: Feeling the initial effects of alcohol, slightly intoxicated.
  • Origin: Implies the light-headed or tingling sensation one might feel.
  • Usage: “I’m not drunk, just a little buzzed.”

Sloshed

  • Meaning: Drunk.
  • Origin: Possibly derived from the sloshing sound of liquid, representing one’s insides being full of alcohol.
  • Usage: “He was so sloshed he couldn’t stand straight.”

Blitzed

  • Meaning: Highly intoxicated.
  • Origin: “Blitz” originally referred to a sudden, overwhelming attack, suggesting the overwhelming impact of alcohol.
  • Usage: “After her third cocktail, she was totally blitzed.”

Tanked

  • Meaning: Drunk.
  • Origin: Implies being filled up like a tank.
  • Usage: “He got tanked at the bar.”

Loaded

  • Meaning: Drunk or high on drugs.
  • Origin: Suggests being filled up with alcohol, like loading a gun or a machine.
  • Usage: “She was loaded by the time she left.”

Bombed

  • Meaning: Very drunk.
  • Origin: Implies being hit hard by the effects of alcohol.
  • Usage: “We got bombed at the beach party.”

Pissed

  • Meaning: Drunk.
  • Origin: British slang. The term “pissed” is a shortening of the phrase “pissed as a fart,” where “piss” stands for beer.
  • Usage: “He went to the pub and got completely pissed.”

Liquored up

  • Meaning: Intoxicated from consuming liquor.
  • Origin: Direct reference to consuming alcoholic beverages, specifically liquor.
  • Usage: “She doesn’t usually get that liquored up.”

Three sheets to the wind

  • Meaning: Very drunk.
  • Origin: A nautical term. If a ship’s sheets (ropes or chains that control sails) are loose, the sail flaps in the wind and doesn’t provide control for the ship. So, a ship with three sheets to the wind would be out of control.
  • Usage: “By the end of the night, he was three sheets to the wind.”

Blotto

  • Meaning: Extremely drunk to the point of unconsciousness.
  • Origin: Possibly from the word blot, implying being blotted out or obscured by alcohol.
  • Usage: “He drank so much that he was blotto.”

That’s it for our list of slang phrases for “drunk” or “intoxicated”. We hope you’ve found this compilation enlightening. While the world of slang is ever-evolving, these terms have stood the test of time and are universally recognized. If you think we’ve missed any synonyms for “drunk”, do let us know in the comments below. Keep expanding your vocabulary!👍😊

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