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# in his cups

phrase (idiom, prepositional phrase: in his cups, in her cups, in one's cups)

«in his cups» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, old-fashioned) drunk, or while drinking a lot of alcohol.

### In the lessons

Used in older books and by speakers wanting to sound polite or literary about someone being drunk. Today it sounds old-fashioned and a little humorous. Register: old-fashioned, literary; all regions.

### Examples

- In his cups, the old sailor told stories nobody believed.
- My great-uncle sang loudly when he was in his cups.
- The novel says the duke was often in his cups by noon.
- He made promises in his cups that he forgot the next day.
- Chat: «in his cups» = drunk, it's from old books
- She becomes very sentimental in her cups.

### Note

It is not about holding teacups. It changes with the person: in his cups, in her cups, in their cups. It sounds gentler than «drunk», but it still means drunk. Plain word: drunk.