Meaning of Idiom ‘Half in the Bag’
To be half in the bag is to be mildly intoxicated by alcohol; almost drunk.
This idiom is also used to mean ‘drunk or intoxicated’ (i.e. completely drunk). This usage reflects the earlier variation ‘in the bag’ which today is not as common. Originally, in the bag meant completely drunk and half in the bag meant partially drunk. Today, the ‘half’ version tends to serve both purposes.
Other idiomatic uses of the word half to mean drunk include:
half up the pole
half-blind
half-canned
half-crocked
half-stewed
half-sprung
half-baked
half-lit
The last two, ‘half-baked’ and ‘half-lit’ are more likely to be used in regards to marijuana use. To be ‘baked’ means to be under the influence of a drug, especially marijuana. To be ‘half-baked’ means to be mildly affected by a drug.
To ‘get lit up’ means to become intoxicated or high.
Sentence Examples
“We found Tom in the parking lot sitting on the ground beside his car, half in the bag and crying.”
“I was already half in the bag by the time the party started.”
“My cousin showed up to the wedding half in the bag and immediately made a spectacle of himself.”
“My mother was going in for surgery and I swear the doctor was half in the bag. I called the whole thing off!”
“He’s not a pilot anymore. He lost his license. During his last flight, he was half in the bag and almost caused an accident on the runway.”
“Would you like to kiss me? Just if you… if you wanted to kiss me, it would really be your lucky night, because I’m half in the bag and my husband won’t be home for, you know, three to five years.” — Larry Crowne (2011)
“What’s with Dad? He’s half in the bag. Acting crazy.” — She’s the One (1996)
“I feel real sorry for you, and I think you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re such a pathetic nerd.” “I should be ashamed? At least I don’t show up in public, half in the bag, making an utter jerk out of myself.” — Talk Radio (1989)
“I forgot that’s the way it is with these joints. They get you half in the bag, and you forget how to play the game.” — Pink Cadillac (1989)
“Hey, man, what’s with you? You’re half in the bag, for God’s sakes.” — Brother’s Keeper (1984)
Origin
Used since at least the 1980s.
The origin of this idiom is unclear. The idiom ‘in the bag’ means ‘as good as certain or virtually assured (as of success). To be in the bag can also mean to be intoxicated. Half in the bag, then, means half-intoxicated. 1Dolgopolov, Yuri. [http://amzn.to/2vBfotM A Dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations] McFarland, 2010. While in the bag is no longer commonly used to mean drunk, half in the bag is still heard, both to mean slightly or nearly intoxicated or simply intoxicated. How ‘in the bag’ came to be associated with intoxication is unknown.