- All are informal or slang terms meaning very drunk or intoxicated.
- Shit-faced, Hammered, Wasted: Very common, highly informal, imply a significant level of drunkenness, often to the point of impairment. Shit-faced is vulgar.
- Blotto: Less common now, somewhat dated (peaked mid-20th century), implies oblivion or incoherence due to drink.
- Soused: Also somewhat dated, implies being thoroughly soaked in alcohol.
- Tight: Can mean slightly drunk or mean/stingy with money. Context is crucial. As drunk, it implies being noticeably affected but perhaps not completely out of control. More common in UK/older US usage for drunk.
Explanation
Origin
- Shit-faced: Vulgar slang, likely 20th century. Origin unclear, possibly hyperbolic description of losing control/making a mess.
- Hammered: Likens the feeling of heavy drunkenness to being hit repeatedly with a hammer. Mid-20th century or earlier.
- Wasted: Implies incapacitation, resources (mind/body) being uselessly consumed. Popularized mid-to-late 20th century, perhaps drug culture influence.
- Blotto: Early 20th century. Possibly from blot (like blotting paper soaking up liquid) or related to oblivion.
- Soused: From souse, meaning to pickle or steep in liquid (like pickling herring). Used for drunkenness since the 17th century.
- Tight: Used for drunk since the 19th century. Origin debated; perhaps relates to the feeling of tension/constriction, or paradoxically from tight meaning close/friendly (as drink can make people), or even from being full (tight skin). Also means stingy/miserly.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Shit-faced (already listed)
- Pissed as a newt (UK/Aus)
- Fucked up (Can mean drunk or high, or generally messed up)
- Rat-arsed (UK/Aus)
Slang/Informal (Common):
- Hammered, Wasted (already listed)
- Plastered, Smashed, Sloshed, Tanked (up)
- Juiced (up)
- Boozed up
Milder/Dated:
- Blotto, Soused, Tight (already listed)
- Tipsy, Buzzed (usually implies less intense drunkenness)
- In one's cups (Dated)
- Lit (Can also mean excellent, context needed)
Formal:
- Intoxicated
- Inebriated
- Under the influence
Situational Appropriateness
- Shit-faced: Highly informal, vulgar. Avoid in polite company or professional settings.
- Hammered, Wasted: Highly informal. Okay among friends, but not professional.
- Blotto, Soused: Informal, dated. Might sound quaint or old-fashioned.
- Tight: Informal. Be very clear from context whether you mean drunk or stingy. Less common for drunk in US now.
- General rule: Avoid slang terms for drunkenness in formal or professional environments. Use intoxicated or under the influence if necessary.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Pissed: Critical difference between UK/Aus (drunk) and US (angry).
- Tight: Ambiguity between drunk and stingy. Context must be clear.
- Using very vulgar terms like shit-faced in the wrong company can cause offense.
Examples
- He drank a whole bottle of vodka and was completely shit-faced.
- We all got hammered at the wedding reception.
- She doesn't remember anything from last night; she was totally wasted.
- Grandpa told stories of getting blotto during shore leave. (Dated)
- They came home soused after a long night at the pub. (Dated/UK)
- He was getting a bit tight after just two beers. (Slightly drunk) / Don't ask him to pay; he's really tight. (Stingy)
Dialogue
Person A: How was Dave's birthday party?
Person B: It was wild! Everyone was having a great time. Dave himself got completely hammered, though.
Person A: Oh really? Was he alright?
Person B: Yeah, his friends took care of him, got him home safely. He was just really, really drunk by the end of the night. Definitely wasted.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Work Christmas party was messy. Pretty sure half the office got hammered 🥴 #workparty #hangover
- Instagram Story poll: How wasted did you get last night? [Scale 1-10]
- Facebook post (perhaps older relative): Remember Uncle Jim getting completely soused at cousin Emily's wedding? Good times. (Use of 'soused' indicates older speaker or specific dialect).
- Reddit comment: Don't text your ex when you're shit-faced. Just don't. #drunktexts #regret
Response Patterns
- Concern: Oh wow, is he okay? / Maybe someone should get him some water.
- Amusement (if context is light): Haha, sounds like a fun night! / Classic!
- Disapproval: That's not good. / He needs to slow down.
- Relating: Yeah, I got that wasted last month.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing someone is very drunk:
- Ask about their well-being: Are they safe? / Did they get home okay?
- Ask for details (if appropriate): What happened? / What did they do?
- Offer help (if present): Should we get them some water/food?
- Discuss the events leading up to it: How much did they drink?
Conversation Starter
- No. These terms describe a state and are used within a narrative or description, not typically to start a conversation.
Intonation
- Often said with exaggeration, disapproval, amusement, or as a simple description, depending on context.
- Stress usually falls on the main word: SHIT-faced, HAMMERED, WASTED, BLOTTO, SOUSED, TIGHT.
Generation Differences
- Shit-faced, Hammered, Wasted: Common across many adult generations, perhaps especially Gen X and Millennials.
- Blotto, Soused: Associated with older generations (Baby Boomers or earlier).
- Tight (as drunk): More common in UK, potentially older generations in US.
Regional Variations
- Shit-faced, Hammered, Wasted: Widely understood in most English-speaking regions.
- Pissed (meaning drunk): Primarily UK, Australia, NZ. Means angry in US/Canada. VERY important distinction.
- Legless, Paralytic, Rat-arsed: More common in UK/Aus/NZ.
- Tight (drunk): More prevalent in UK English.
- Blotto, Soused: Usage has declined generally but might be recognized.