You’ve probably heard it, maybe even used it yourself: “He was completely pickled last night.” It’s one of those colorful bits of slang that adds a certain flavor to our language, much like, well, a pickle adds flavor to a sandwich. But where does this peculiar phrase come from, and what exactly does it mean to be ‘pickled’ in the slang sense?
At its heart, the word ‘pickled’ refers to something preserved in brine or vinegar. Think of those jars of cucumbers, onions, or even eggs you see in the grocery store, or perhaps the tangy pickled vegetables served alongside a hearty meal. This literal meaning, of being steeped and transformed by a liquid, is actually a pretty good jumping-off point for its slang counterpart.
When we say someone is ‘pickled,’ we’re talking about them being drunk or intoxicated. It’s an informal, often lighthearted way to describe someone who’s had a bit too much to drink. The imagery is quite vivid, isn't it? Imagine something being so thoroughly soaked and altered by a liquid that it loses its original crispness and becomes soft, perhaps a little disoriented. That’s not too far off from how someone might feel when they’re ‘pickled’.
Interestingly, dictionaries point to both American and British English using this slang meaning. Collins English Dictionary notes it as informal for ‘intoxicated; drunk,’ and Merriam-Webster offers ‘drunk; sense 1a’ for its informal definition. It’s a term that seems to have seeped into common usage, perhaps because it’s so evocative. It’s not just ‘drunk’; it’s ‘pickled,’ suggesting a deeper immersion in the state of inebriation.
While the primary slang meaning revolves around intoxication, the word ‘pickled’ itself has other, less common, uses. For instance, in woodworking, ‘pickled’ can describe a finish that gives wood an antique appearance, achieved by applying and partly removing paint or by bleaching. It’s a different kind of transformation, but still involves altering the original state.
But back to the more common, conversational use. When you hear someone’s ‘pickled,’ it’s usually said with a chuckle, perhaps a knowing nod. It’s a friendly way to describe a state of being that’s a bit out of the ordinary, a temporary departure from one’s usual self, much like a cucumber transformed into a briny delight. So, the next time you encounter the word, you’ll know it’s not just about preserving food; it’s about a certain state of merry, or perhaps not-so-merry, inebriation.
