Definition of be 3 sheets to the wind

3 sheets to the wind

adjective

extremely intoxicated
Person A: Was Otis drunk when he came to the jail last night?

Person B: He sure was. He was 3 sheets to the wind.
- See more words with the same meaning: under the influence of alcohol, drunk.
Last edited on May 04 2013. Submitted by Bridget M. from Watford, Warwick, ON, Canada on Apr 21 2005.

origin

Originally a nautical phrase of the 19th century.

On a tall ship, "sheets" are the ropes which hold the corners of the sails (the clews) taut, so that the sail can catch wind and move the ship forward. If one of these lines becomes loose, the ship wobbles and trembles slightly, if two of them become loose the ship yaws (pitches) from side to side rather drunkenly and if three sheets are (flapping about) in the wind, then the ship careens all over the place and is all but impossible to steer, much like an extremely drunk person.

"Three sheets in the wind" became "three sheets to the wind" at some point in history and has since been adopted by non-seafarers.
Last edited on May 06 2011. Submitted by TimeTravellingGeezer from Fort Collins, CO, USA on Mar 07 2011.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'under the influence of alcohol, drunk':
schnookered	Definitions include: very drunk.
wankered	Definitions include: very drunk.
smashed	Definitions include: extremely inebriated.
zonked	Definitions include: extremely intoxicated.
off (one's) tits	Definitions include: very drunk.
blitzed	Definitions include: very much under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
moellered	Definitions include: very drunk.
hammered	Definitions include: very drunk.
sauced	Definitions include: drunk.
buttered	Definitions include: inebriated.
drunk	Definitions include: inebriated.
tore up from the floor up	Definitions include: skanky and or messed up.
tanked	Definitions include: extremely drunk.
spanked	Definitions include: intoxicated.
toddy stricken	Definitions include: drunk from having too many toddies.
(show 143 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'sheet':
between the sheets	Definitions include: in bed.
cheat sheet	Definitions include: a hidden piece of paper with information used to cheat on a test.
crib sheet	Definitions include: a hidden piece of paper with information used to cheat on a test.
history sheeter	Definitions include: a person who has a long criminal record; someone who has been arrested several times.
rap sheet	Definitions include: a list of one's past criminal charges.
split the sheets	Definitions include: to get a divorce.
three sheets to the wind	Definitions include: very drunk.
Other terms relating to 'the':
101 scoop, the	Definitions include: the real information or the proof, instruction, the know how, where, when, and why about something or someone.
2-10, the	Definitions include: walking, generally as opposed to driving.
3rd degree, the	Definitions include: interrogation.
411, the	Definitions include: information.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.	Definitions include: something you have now is worth more than two things you have just a chance of getting.
about the size of it	Definitions include: a good estimate.
ace in the hole	Definitions include: a secret advantage.
across the board	Definitions include: inclusive.
add fuel to the fire	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.
against the clock	Definitions include: with the amount of time left to finish a task rapidly disappearing.
ahead of the curve	Definitions include: having an opinion or belief prior to it becoming common or popular.
aim Archie at the adamant	Definitions include: of a male, to urinate.
ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun	Definitions include: Someone being butthurt over having something, they do to others regularly, done to the them
a little on the side	Definitions include: secret sexual activity with a person other than one's partner.
all the	Definitions include: lots of.
(show 1409 more hide)
Other terms relating to 'three':
3	Definitions include: law-abiding citizens.
3-dimensional thinking	Definitions include: the ability to think outside the box.
3-legged man	Definitions include: a man with an extremely large penis.
3-ring circus	Definitions include: a chaotic event.
a couple three	Definitions include: an unspecified small number.
a dollar three eighty	Definitions include: a non-specified price.
a dollar three eightyfive	Definitions include: a non-specified price.
be World War 3	Definitions include: be something really big and bad.
go threesies	Definitions include: to split something (often a purchase) three ways.
number 3	Definitions include: a session of masturbation.
sex between three people	Definitions include: Manage sure for manage twa
stick to the 3 B's	Definitions include: to focus on beer, "bud" (marijuana), and "bitches" (women.)
three-finger salute	Definitions include: the pressing of the "Alt" key + the "Ctrl" key + the "Del" key to reboot or unfreeze a PC computer.
three pump chump	Definitions include: a premature ejaculator.
three-ring circus	Definitions include: something chaotic and disorderly.
(show 4 more hide)
Other terms relating to 'to':
9 to 5	Definitions include: See nine to five.
add fuel to the fire	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.
add insult to injury	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.
all your base are belong to us	Definitions include: a declaration of victory or superiority.
*ss-to-mouth	Definitions include: sex in which anal sex is immediately followed by fellatio.
back to (one's) roots	Definitions include: to revisit one's past.
back to square one	Definitions include: to go back to the beginning.
balls to the wall	Definitions include: extreme; "all out".
beat all to hell	Definitions include: to be vastly superior.
beat to the punch	Definitions include: to perform an activity before someone else.
be greek to	Definitions include: to be unintelligible.
be up to	Definitions include: to do.
bigger fish to fry	Definitions include: more important things to deal with.
blow to hell	Definitions include: to kill or destroy.
blow to smithereens	Definitions include: to blow up into bits.
(show 247 more hide)
Other terms relating to 'wind':
all wind and piss	Definitions include: without substance; all talk and no action.
break wind	Definitions include: to flatulate.
get wind of	Definitions include: to become aware of.
head wind	Definitions include: When a man farts while receiving oral sex.
it's in the wind	Definitions include: Forget about it.
pass wind	Definitions include: To fart or flatulate.
piss in the wind	Definitions include: waste one's time.
three sheets to the wind	Definitions include: very drunk.
two fingers in the wind	Definitions include: to use the peace sign, saying goodbye.
wind	Definitions include: flatulence.
wind up	Definitions include: to anger.

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