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hamstered

British slang for being thoroughly drunk — past the point of sensible conversation and well into the territory of puffed cheeks and blurry vision.

ˈhæmstɚd248 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

British slang for being thoroughly drunk — past the point of sensible conversation and well into the territory of puffed cheeks and blurry vision. 'Hamstered' is one of a long and gloriously inventive roster of British terms for intoxication, sitting alongside classics like 'hammered,' 'trolleyed,' and 'absolutely gazebo'd.' The hamster connection likely plays on the image of a hamster stuffed with food — cheeks puffed, unsteady, slightly bewildered. A joyfully silly way to describe a messy night out.

We found him at the end of the night absolutely hamstered, trying to explain the rules of cricket to a cab driver.
Origin: British slang of uncertain precise origin, likely coined through the same playful process that generates dozens of synonyms for intoxication in UK vernacular. The hamster metaphor may evoke a hamster's stuffed cheeks or its erratic, stumbling movement when overfed. Part of a rich British tradition of comic euphemism for drunkenness. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(UK, slang) Drunk.

For parents

"hamstered" means: Drunk.. 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

"hamstered" means: Drunk.. 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 (UK) — 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 heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

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