drunk as a skunk

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorous

   Extremely drunk; so affected by alcohol that you can hardly behave or speak normally.

   Grammar: Used after linking verbs such as be, get, seem, or look: He was drunk as a skunk.

   Patterns

   • be drunk as a skunk
   • get drunk as a skunk
   • look drunk as a skunk

   By midnight my uncle was drunk as a skunk and singing old songs.

   She got drunk as a skunk at the office party and had to take a taxi home.

   You can't drive home like that — you're drunk as a skunk.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorous

   Used jokingly to describe someone whose behavior is wildly silly because of drink.

   Grammar: Often follows get or act; the joke is that the person is ridiculous, not just tipsy.

   Patterns

   • act drunk as a skunk
   • get drunk as a skunk

   After two bottles of wine he was acting drunk as a skunk, dancing on the table.

   They all got drunk as a skunk on cheap beer and laughed all night.

Common combinations

be drunk as a skunk

By the end of the wedding, half the guests were drunk as a skunk.

get drunk as a skunk

He got drunk as a skunk on his birthday and lost his keys.

drunk as a skunk on something

They were drunk as a skunk on cheap wine before dinner even started.

look drunk as a skunk

You look drunk as a skunk — sit down and drink some water.

as drunk as a skunk

She came home as drunk as a skunk and slept until noon.

Synonyms and how they differ

blind drunk

Also means extremely drunk, but sounds a little more serious and is common in British English.

wasted

Informal slang for very drunk or exhausted; it is stronger and less playful than this rhyming phrase.

tipsy

Means only slightly drunk, so it is far weaker and cannot replace the headword.

Opposites

Word family

drunk adjective

Having had too much alcohol; the base word of the phrase.

drunken adjective

Done while drunk, or often drunk, as in a drunken argument.

drunkard noun

A person who frequently drinks too much; a disapproving word.

skunk noun

A small black-and-white animal that sprays a bad smell; used here only for the rhyme.

Commonly confused: drunk as a skunk or drunk as a lord? drunk as a skunk or skunked?

Practice

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