English Reference
Idiom idiom

top-heavy with drink


drunk

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“He was top-heavy with drink and could barely walk.”

CONTEXTUAL

“After the long wedding reception, several guests were top-heavy with drink and needed taxis home.”

COMPLEX

“The reveler stumbled out of the tavern, clearly top-heavy with drink, and struggled to maintain his balance on the uneven cobblestones.”


US, late 19th century. Due to staggering walk when drunk; compare brick in one's hat.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    drink from a firehose

    To be overwhelmed (with work, information, etc.); to be inundated with an unrestricted or unfiltered amount.

  2. 02

    drink with the flies

    To drink alcohol while alone.

  3. 03

    drinks o'clock

    The time to begin social drinking.

  4. 04

    drive someone to drink

    To cause someone to drink lots of alcohol, as an escape from frustration.

  5. 05

    drive to drink

    Synonym of drive someone crazy.

  6. 06

    hold one's drink

    Synonym of hold one's liquor.

  7. 07

    long drink

    A relatively weak (low alcoholic content per volume) and voluminous mixed drink, typically containing lots of ice and mixer.

  8. 08

    preach water and drink wine

    To act hypocritically; to fail to practice what one preaches.

Last updated August 10, 2026