The Yearbook of the German Cognitive Linguistics Association is a textbook containing the evolution of language around the world and contains a report titled Constructing Drunkenness that dissects the adaptation of UK slang for terms meaning “drunk” and includes a list of over 500 words referenced across four separate dictionary and linguistic references.
Comedian Michael McIntyre argues that “drunkonyms” can be created using any word using the suffix “-ed” to the end, using the example “gazeboed.”
The British have become experts at coming up with exactly how to express that they’ve had a few too many without actually ever saying the word “drunk” — let along any word that insinuates consuming a beverage.
Here are 50 words that the Brits use as a substitute for inebriated:
Bladdered
Inebriated
Intoxicated
Langered
Legless
Mashed
Merry
Mullered
Pickled
Pie-eyed
Plastered
Sloshed
Smashed
Tipsy
Trashed
Wasted
Bevvied
Blasted
Blitzed
Blootered
Blotto
Bombed
Cabbaged
Canned
Fuddled
Hammered
Langers
Lashed
Loaded
Ossified
Paralytic
Pissed
Rat-arsed
Ratted
Screwed
Slaughtered
Sozzled
Squiffy
Steaming
Stewed
Stoned
Tanked
Tiddly
Tight
Well-oiled
Wrecked
Zonked
Adrian Quist
Arseholed
Beered-up
What are your substitutes for the word drunk?
