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burlin'

Glasgow and wider Scottish slang for being drunk or heavily intoxicated.

208 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
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Definitions

#1·Apr 28, 2026

Glasgow and wider Scottish slang for being drunk or heavily intoxicated. Sits in the same register as 'steaming,' 'blootered,' and 'minted' in Scottish dialect — vivid, emphatic, and often used with amusement rather than shame. Typically heard in casual conversation among friends; the -in' ending suggests a present-participle form that became fixed as an adjective.

By the time we found him, he was absolutely burlin' and singing on the steps of the pub.
Origin: Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents

"burlin'" means: Glasgow and wider Scottish slang for being drunk or heavily intoxicated. Sits in the same register as 'steaming,' 'blootered,' and 'minted'.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"burlin'" means: Glasgow and wider Scottish slang for being drunk or heavily intoxicated. Sits in the same register as 'steaming,' 'blootered,' and 'minted'.... Register: informal slang, fine in casual conversation, texting and social media but not in academic essays, business writing or formal speech. Note the regional or dialect label (Scottish) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have

Cluster: friend
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(Scotland, Glasgow) drunk, intoxicated.

Cluster: drugs
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For specific readers

"burlin'" means: Glasgow and wider Scottish slang for being drunk or heavily intoxicated. Sits in the same register as 'steaming,' 'blootered,' and 'minted'.... This is informal slang, common in casual speech, texting and social media, but not appropriate for school work, applications or professional settings. There is no real cause for concern in itself; it is everyday peer vocabulary. If your child uses it, a light comment about audience and register is usually enough — no need to escalate. Context, more than the word, tells you whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

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