(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 tipsya 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 tableall 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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