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# worse for wear

phrase (adjective phrase: the worse for wear, a bit worse for wear, rather the worse for wear); idiom

«worse for wear» 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

1. (euphemism, UK, everyday) drunk, or ill and tired after drinking too much.
2. (literal) old, damaged or shabby after a lot of use, as in a worn-out coat or a battered book.
3. tired, hurt or messy after a hard time, a fight or a long journey.

### In the lessons

Used to be polite or funny about someone being drunk or hungover without saying «drunk»; also an everyday way to describe worn-out things or tired people. Common in British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand talk, gossip and news; known in North America. Register: everyday, informal to neutral. Usually with «the»: «the worse for wear».

### Examples

- Tom came in looking rather the worse for wear.
- Gossip: «Dave was a bit worse for wear after the office party.»
- News: A man, clearly the worse for wear, was helped home by police.
- Literal: My old teddy is looking the worse for wear — one ear is hanging off.
- Literal: The library book was worse for wear after the dog chewed it.
- After the camping trip, we all came home tired and worse for wear.
- Chat: «Feeling worse for wear today, too many drinks last night.»
- Literal: The bike was worse for wear after a winter in the shed.

### Note

Trap: about a person, especially after a party or a night out, it usually means drunk or hungover; about a thing, it means worn out. Do not take it as «worse than a coat». Plain words: drunk, hungover; worn out, shabby. Grammar: «the worse for wear», not «worst for wear».