tired and emotional

tired and emotional

A semi-polite or humorous euphemism for drunkenness. Primarily heard in UK. I might be mistaken, but Sean's father looked a bit tired and emotional at the picnic, didn't he? You must excuse me, I'm a bit tired and emotional just now. I think I'd best be going home.
See also: and, emotional, tired
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tired and emotional

drunk.
This is a humorous euphemism, used originally in newspapers in contexts where the word drunk would lay the publication open to a libel charge. It is particularly associated with the British satirical magazine Private Eye.
See also: and, emotional, tired
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be tired and emotional
  • emotional
  • tried
  • a bit of how's your father
  • chesterfield rugby
  • a spot of how's your father
  • the chuff
  • c u next Tuesday
  • a visit from the stork
  • graft away
References in periodicals archive
I wanted to go, but was judged to be too tired and emotional. And inebriated (I'd been to the bar a couple of times).
Finally, and possibly tired and emotional, she collapsed into the arms of boyfriend Kyle Johnson.
The co-host of Channel 4's wacky betting show was clearly tired and emotional. "I thought they might be filming another game for the show," said one karaoke fan.
The Closer actress looked a tad "tired and emotional" as she emerged, slapfree, from Soho's Groucho Club early yesterday.
The "tired and emotional" singer had to be restrained by minders from attacking photographers.
On further investigation it proved to be two City players, a Rovers player, a well-known cricketer and a Coronation Street star, all looking tired and emotional and singing 'The Greatest Love Of All' on the karaoke machine.
But a few tipples too many left her looking tired and emotional.
The star, 26, who's currently launching his solo career, partied with Darius, Geri Halliwell and a tired and emotional Amy Nuttall from Emmerdale.
YUCK - sporting a large stain that looks suspiciously like sick, bleary-eyed Sadie Frost takes "tired and emotional" to new extremes at a party.
A "tired and emotional" Brooke Kinsella stumbling as she tried to leave the VIP ladies' loos...
Perhaps Rachel Stevens was just "tired and emotional".
An RTE statement read: "We are pleased to announce Eamon Dunphy will resume his work and we are happy to accept his apology for the incident that led to his suspension." Dunphy, 56, was suspended three weeks ago after turning up "tired and emotional".
By the end of the night the partying had clearly taken its toll as Paula looked tired and emotional.