What it means
Absolutely plastered, the kind of drunk where your legs feel like they’ve clocked off and you’re wobbling like a newborn foal. Used after big nights out, weddings, or any just one pint that turns into a marathon. Not medical, just a cheeky visual way to say someone’s beyond tipsy, in no state to walk home, and definitely due a taxi.
Usage examples
"Dave was legless by ten, tried to have beef with the kebab van, then begged the bouncer for a lift. We ended up fireman-carrying him to the taxi."
"He was absolutely legless by nine and we had to pour him into a taxi."
Where it comes from
Dead literal: so drunk your legs no longer take orders, leaving you unable to stand or walk in a straight line. To be legless is to have drunk yourself clean off your feet, a good rung past merely tipsy.
Other ways to say it
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