# tired and emotional

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tired-and-emotional
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Drunk.

## Examples

- He had too much wine and is now tired and emotional.
- The party went on until dawn, and by the end, several guests were looking a bit tired and emotional.
- After the long wedding reception, the groom was clearly tired and emotional, stumbling over his words as he tried to thank the guests.

## Origin

First used by the British satirical magazine Private Eye in 1967, in a spoof diplomatic memo to describe the state of cabinet minister George Brown. It is now used as a stock phrase and euphemism to avoid litigation for libel, and the phrase has spread well beyond the magazine.

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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.