three sheets to the wind

Related to three sheets to the wind: The whole nine yards

three sheets to the wind

slang Extremely drunk, especially to the point of being uncoordinated or out of control. Most likely derived from nautical terminology, in which a "sheet" is the rope that controls the sails of a tall ship; if several sheets are loose or mishandled, the boat's movement becomes unsteady and difficult to control, like that of a drunk person. On his 21st birthday, Jeff's friends took him to every bar in town until he was three sheets to the wind. They had an open bar at the staff party, so we were all three sheets to the wind by the time we left.

See also: sheet, three, wind

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

three sheets to the wind

Also, three sheets in the wind. Drunk, inebriated, as in After six beers he's three sheets to the wind. This expression is generally thought to refer to the sheet-that is, a rope or chain-that holds one or both lower corners of a sail. If the sheet is allowed to go slack in the wind, the sail flaps about and the boat is tossed about much as a drunk staggers. Having three sheets loose would presumably make the situation all the worse. Another explanation holds that with two or four sheets to the wind the boat is balanced, whereas with three it is not. [Mid-1800s]

See also: sheet, three, wind

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

three sheets to the wind

OLD-FASHIONED, INFORMAL

If someone is three sheets to the wind, they are drunk. He's probably three sheets to the wind down at Toby's, wondering where he left his truck. Note: On a boat, the ropes that control the position of the sails are called sheets. If the sheets are left hanging loose, the sails flap freely in the wind and cannot be controlled.

See also: sheet, three, wind

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

(be) three sheets to the ˈwind

(old-fashioned) (be) drunk: By 11 o’clock he was three sheets to the wind and we had to take him home in a cab. OPPOSITE: stone-cold soberThis idiom comes from sailing: if three sheets (= the ropes attached to the sails) are loose, the wind blows the sails about and the boat moves in a very unsteady way.

See also: sheet, three, wind

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

three sheets

verb

See three sheets in the wind

three sheets to the wind

verb

See three sheets in the wind

See also: sheet, three, wind

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

three sheets

to/in the wind Informal

Intoxicated; drunk.

three sheets to the wind

Very drunk. Despite what it sounds like to nonsailors, a “sheet” isn't a sail. It's the rope that secures the sail's edge or corner to the mast or the vessel itself. A sheet that comes loose flaps erratically, much like a drunken sailor weaving his way back to the ship after a night's alcoholic revelry. Three sheets blowing in the wind would be even worse.

See also: sheet, three, wind

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price

See also:

three sheets
three sheets in the wind
four sheets
four sheets in the wind
four sheets to the wind
two sheets to the wind
both sheets in the wind
back water
bitter end, (fight) to the
first port of call

References in periodicals archive

He gets three sheets to the wind on the five nights he's in London, and he uses the other one to sleep under.

Ugly face of politics

A man has a few pints, goes home and tries to make something to eat - putting a chip pan on when you're three sheets to the wind is never a good idea.

Voice of Scotland

And, presumably after someone's run up a tab at the bar, they'd be three sheets to the wind. But why do we use that phrase to describe a drunk?

Your questions answered?

Meanwhile, down at The Woolpack they're aiming to get three sheets to the wind with a toga party.

We love telly: WE LOVE SOAPS

When you're as thin as Hatcher - she makes a pipe cleaner look plump - it only takes about one glass of wine and you're three sheets to the wind.

'You can be thin or sober. You can't be both'

Soon we were three sheets to the wind and Sarah was swearing like a navvy.

Lucy Sweet: Compared to the ladies, we looked like we'd slept in a skip

Then there's the well-known three sheets to the wind - a nautical term.

460 DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET BLOOTERED; Being legless needn't leave you speechless

In future, new legislation will force men to prove that sex was consensual even if the woman was three sheets to the wind, naked and swinging from the chandeliers.

Women must wake up to reality of date rape

"He was definitely three sheets to the wind. He was sitting there mumbling away and the barmaid said: 'I am not serving you any more alcohol'.

OFF THE RECORD; ONLY THE SCOTS BOOZE MORE THAN ME

It's no secret they're not his favourite people and he is easy to provoke when he's three sheets to the wind."

3AM: 'I'LL HAVE THE LOT OF YOU' What Jay Kay told snappers before cops cuffed him

Jeannie was laughing hard at my story of Jean Yves and said: "he's no Porsche salesman, he's not even French, his name's Dougie McTavish and he's three sheets to the wind.

TALKING MOTORS; My dream of Jeannie is a nightmare

While this all helps, it's a sad reflection of the society we live in that a scantily clad female, three sheets to the wind, can't walk the streets without fear of attack at 4am.

Sue Carroll: WISE UP TO RAPE THREAT

ENGLISH cricketers go on a 48-hour bender, stumble onto an open-top bus bound for Trafalgar Square, slur their words live on TV, hide bleary eyes behind sunglasses and turn up at No10 three sheets to the wind.

DARREN FULLERTON: A clappy reaction to 'Wayniac'

I enjoy both the hop and the grape, and (nb, not "but") have met the most interesting people in my life while three sheets to the wind.

Excess ..I'll drink to that; THERE'S NO SHAME IN CELEBRATING LIKE A CELEBRITY

词组	three sheets to the wind
释义	three sheets to the wind Related to three sheets to the wind: The whole nine yards three sheets to the wind slang Extremely drunk, especially to the point of being uncoordinated or out of control. Most likely derived from nautical terminology, in which a "sheet" is the rope that controls the sails of a tall ship; if several sheets are loose or mishandled, the boat's movement becomes unsteady and difficult to control, like that of a drunk person. On his 21st birthday, Jeff's friends took him to every bar in town until he was three sheets to the wind. They had an open bar at the staff party, so we were all three sheets to the wind by the time we left. See also: sheet, three, wind Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. three sheets to the wind Also, three sheets in the wind. Drunk, inebriated, as in After six beers he's three sheets to the wind. This expression is generally thought to refer to the sheet-that is, a rope or chain-that holds one or both lower corners of a sail. If the sheet is allowed to go slack in the wind, the sail flaps about and the boat is tossed about much as a drunk staggers. Having three sheets loose would presumably make the situation all the worse. Another explanation holds that with two or four sheets to the wind the boat is balanced, whereas with three it is not. [Mid-1800s] See also: sheet, three, wind The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. three sheets to the wind OLD-FASHIONED, INFORMAL If someone is three sheets to the wind, they are drunk. He's probably three sheets to the wind down at Toby's, wondering where he left his truck. Note: On a boat, the ropes that control the position of the sails are called sheets. If the sheets are left hanging loose, the sails flap freely in the wind and cannot be controlled. See also: sheet, three, wind Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. (be) three sheets to the ˈwind (old-fashioned) (be) drunk: By 11 o’clock he was three sheets to the wind and we had to take him home in a cab. OPPOSITE: stone-cold soberThis idiom comes from sailing: if three sheets (= the ropes attached to the sails) are loose, the wind blows the sails about and the boat moves in a very unsteady way. See also: sheet, three, wind Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary three sheets verb See three sheets in the wind See also: sheet, three three sheets to the wind verb See three sheets in the wind See also: sheet, three, wind McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions three sheets to/in *the wind* Informal Intoxicated; drunk. See also: sheet, three American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. three sheets to the wind Very drunk. Despite what it sounds like to nonsailors, a “sheet” isn't a sail. It's the rope that secures the sail's edge or corner to the mast or the vessel itself. A sheet that comes loose flaps erratically, much like a drunken sailor weaving his way back to the ship after a night's alcoholic revelry. Three sheets blowing in the wind would be even worse. See also: sheet, three, wind Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price See also: three sheets three sheets in the wind four sheets four sheets in the wind four sheets to the wind two sheets to the wind both sheets in the wind back water bitter end, (fight) to the first port of call References in periodicals archive He gets three sheets to the wind on the five nights he's in London, and he uses the other one to sleep under. Ugly face of politics A man has a few pints, goes home and tries to make something to eat - putting a chip pan on when you're three sheets to the wind is never a good idea. Voice of Scotland And, presumably after someone's run up a tab at the bar, they'd be three sheets to the wind. But why do we use that phrase to describe a drunk? Your questions answered? Meanwhile, down at The Woolpack they're aiming to get three sheets to the wind with a toga party. We love telly: WE LOVE SOAPS When you're as thin as Hatcher - she makes a pipe cleaner look plump - it only takes about one glass of wine and you're three sheets to the wind. 'You can be thin or sober. You can't be both' Soon we were three sheets to the wind and Sarah was swearing like a navvy. Lucy Sweet: Compared to the ladies, we looked like we'd slept in a skip Then there's the well-known three sheets to the wind - a nautical term. 460 DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET BLOOTERED; Being legless needn't leave you speechless In future, new legislation will force men to prove that sex was consensual even if the woman was three sheets to the wind, naked and swinging from the chandeliers. Women must wake up to reality of date rape "He was definitely three sheets to the wind. He was sitting there mumbling away and the barmaid said: 'I am not serving you any more alcohol'. OFF THE RECORD; ONLY THE SCOTS BOOZE MORE THAN ME It's no secret they're not his favourite people and he is easy to provoke when he's three sheets to the wind." 3AM: 'I'LL HAVE THE LOT OF YOU' What Jay Kay told snappers before cops cuffed him Jeannie was laughing hard at my story of Jean Yves and said: "he's no Porsche salesman, he's not even French, his name's Dougie McTavish and he's three sheets to the wind. TALKING MOTORS; My dream of Jeannie is a nightmare While this all helps, it's a sad reflection of the society we live in that a scantily clad female, three sheets to the wind, can't walk the streets without fear of attack at 4am. Sue Carroll: WISE UP TO RAPE THREAT ENGLISH cricketers go on a 48-hour bender, stumble onto an open-top bus bound for Trafalgar Square, slur their words live on TV, hide bleary eyes behind sunglasses and turn up at No10 three sheets to the wind. DARREN FULLERTON: A clappy reaction to 'Wayniac' I enjoy both the hop and the grape, and (nb, not "but") have met the most interesting people in my life while three sheets to the wind. Excess ..I'll drink to that; THERE'S NO SHAME IN CELEBRATING LIKE A CELEBRITY
随便看	throw salt on (one's) game throw salt on someone’s game throw shade throw smoke throw somebody a bone throw somebody a curveball throw somebody to the wolves/lions throw (some) light on (something) throw (some) light upon (something) throw someone throw someone a curve throw (someone) a googly throw someone for a loop throw someone in at the deep end throw someone off balance throw someone off the scent throw (someone) off the trail throw (someone or something) into (something) throw (someone or something) in(to) the drink time of one's life time on hands time on one's hands time on (one's) hands time on one's hands, (to have) time on your hands