half in the bag
Slang for being pleasantly, mildly drunk — that sweet spot where you're loose and cheerful but haven't crossed into messy territory yet.
Definitions
Slang for being pleasantly, mildly drunk — that sweet spot where you're loose and cheerful but haven't crossed into messy territory yet. The 'bag' likely refers to a bag of booze, and being 'half in' suggests you've only gone partway. It's a far less alarming description than 'wasted' or 'hammered', capturing that convivial glow of a good evening out. Widely used in North America and understood across most English-speaking countries.
By the time dinner was over we were all half in the bag and singing along to the jukebox.
Comments
(slang) mildly drunk, or nearly drunk.
Comments
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "half in the bag".
🗺️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.
Tags
Other words near "half in the bag" (H)
Browse all slang words starting with H.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- half lit79%
Informal slang for being mildly or moderately drunk — more than tipsy but not fully intoxicated. Sits in the same register as buzzed or half-cut, suggesting a pleasant loosened state rather than sloppy drunkenness. Used in casual conversation across English-speaking contexts without strong regional restriction.
- half lit67%
(slang) drunk.
- half cut67%
(informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada) Rather drunk.
- half seas over65%
(slang, dated) Slightly drunk, or, possibly in meiosis, very drunk.