# in one's cups

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/in-ones-cups
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Drunk; in the act of consuming alcohol liberally.

## Examples

- He says silly things when he is in his cups.
- The politician became quite loud and started making strange promises while he was in his cups at the party.
- The old sailor, usually a man of few words, became uncharacteristically sentimental and prone to rambling tales when he was in his cups.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.