Phrase guide

four sheets to the wind

adj · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Extremely drunk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • 1975 Tom Waits, "Spare Parts 1 (A Nocturnal Emission)," Nighthawks at the Diner, Asylum Records You see, it's a well known fact, you know / I'm four sheets to the wind, I'm glad you're gone

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

By analogy with three sheets to the wind.