(a) sheet in the wind

(a) sheet in the wind
   mildly drunk
   A sheet is a rope tying a sail to a spar, not the sail itself as landlubbers sometimes assume. If one or more breaks loose, the vessel is in some disarray:
    A thought tipsy — a sheet in the wind. (A. Trollope, 1885)
   A drunkard may also be three, four or several sheets in or to the wind, but not, it seems, two:
    An American lady who was three sheets in the wind said I looked like a movie actor. (Theroux, 1973)
    He remembered coming in it with Jennifer a couple of times, both of them four sheets in the wind and giggling like kids. (Winton, 1994)
    There were French seamen at the next table — all several sheets to the wind. (R. Moss, 1987)

How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. . 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sheet in the wind — phrasal or sheet to the wind : a disordered state caused by drinking : intoxication used with have or be and often qualified quantitatively he was three sheets in the wind by then already had a sheet in the wind …   Useful english dictionary

  • sheet to the wind — phrasal see sheet in the wind …   Useful english dictionary

  • A sheet in the wind — Sheet Sheet, n. [OE. shete, schete, AS. sc[=e]te, sc[=y]te, fr. sce[ a]t a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment);… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • be a sheet in the wind's eye — To be intoxicated • • • Main Entry: ↑eye …   Useful english dictionary

  • Both sheets in the wind — Sheet Sheet, n. [OE. shete, schete, AS. sc[=e]te, sc[=y]te, fr. sce[ a]t a projecting corner, a fold in a garment (akin to D. schoot sheet, bosom, lap, G. schoss bosom, lap, flap of a coat, Icel. skaut, Goth. skauts the hem of a garment);… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • four sheets in the wind —    see sheet in the wind …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • three sheets in the wind —    see sheet in the wind …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • to the wind — (informal) Half drunk (or drunk) ● sheet * * * to the wind (s) (or the four winds) in all directions my little flock scatters to the four winds ■ so as to be abandoned or neglected I threw my friends advice to the winds Origin …   Useful english dictionary

  • three sheets to the wind — old fashioned + humorous : very drunk When he staggered out of the bar, he was three sheets to the wind. • • • Main Entry: ↑sheet three sheets to the wind see ↑sheet, 2 • • • Main Entry: ↑three three sheets to the wind …   Useful english dictionary

  • three sheets to the wind — ► two (or three) sheets to the wind informal drunk. Main Entry: ↑sheet …   English terms dictionary

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