in one's cups
Three sheets gone
In one's cups means drunk.
The phrase is slightly literary or old-fashioned, suggesting someone who has had too much to drink: He tends to get sentimental when he's in his cups.
The cups are drinking vessels, implying someone deep into their wine or ale.
- tipsyMildly intoxicated
- drunkImpaired by alcohol
- under the influenceImpaired by substances
- half in the bagMildly to moderately drunk
- shotQuick liquor serving
uninhibited · sentimental · plastered · rowdy · hitting the bottle · sway · three sheets to the wind · buzzed · liquid courage · Dutch courage · bar · soused · melancholic · beer goggles · befuddled · seeing double · giddy · jovial