What it means
Sloshed means properly drunk, but in a soft, grin-on-your-face kind of way. It sounds more fond than harsh, the sort of word you use when someone was a boozy mess but the story's funny by morning. Usually lighter and less savage than hammered or smashed, with that nice splashy feel built right into it.
Usage examples
"By the time the best man hit his third supposedly short speech, Uncle Gaz was sloshed, hugging strangers, calling the DJ a legend, and nicking sausage rolls."
"By the end of the toast everyone was a bit sloshed and the speeches got a lot more heartfelt."
"She got pleasantly sloshed at the reunion and finally told that story she always holds back."
"We got absolutely sloshed at Sophie's leaving do and somehow ended up ordering chips from a place none of us can remember finding."
"He was sloshed by half ten, telling the bouncer they were best mates and trying to start a singalong outside the kebab shop."
Where it comes from
It comes from slosh, a verb used for liquid slapping and swilling around loosely. That image slid into drunken slang in the 19th century, with sloshed painting someone as full of drink and a bit physically loose round the edges. The word stuck because it sounds half wobbly just saying it.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
We look after this expression together
If they say it where you live and something is missing here, bring it. A magikito looks at it and adds it.
- An example
- Your patch
- Your voice