screwed en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From screw + -ed. * The modern sense of screwed originates in the mid-1600s with a sense of to screw as a means of "exerting pressure or coercion", probably in reference to instruments of torture (e.g. thumbscrews). It quickly gained a wider general sense of "in a bind; in unfortunate inescapable circumstances". When the verb screw gained a sexual connotation in the early 1700s, it joined the long-lasting association of sexual imagery as a metaphor for domination, leading to screwed gaining synonyms like fucked and shagged. On a more general note, this is a prime example of the frequent tendency for verb participles to evolve into participial adjectives. * The sense meaning "intoxicated" is from the early 1800s, and is associated with the term screwy, and the idiom to have a screw loose.
Meanings
-
(mildly, slang, vulgar) Beset with unfortunate circumstances that seem difficult or impossible to overcome; in imminent danger.
They found out about our betrayal, so now we're screwed.
-
(UK, dated, slang) Intoxicated.
Besides they were dreadfully afraid that Freddy Malins might turn up screwed. They would not wish for worlds that any of Mary Jane's pupils should see him under the influence; […]
1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “The Dead”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, pages 217–218:"[…] Did you know that my husband came home intoxicated?" Mrs. Brown laughed. "Oh, not so bad as that, surely! Only a little 'screwed.' George was 'quisby,' too. But then its Christmas, you know."
1889, Belgravia, volume 70, page 15:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most screwed | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more screwed | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
screwedness · screwed, blued and tattooed / screwed, glued and tattooed · screwed and chopped
Relateds
Synonyms
drunk (intoxicated) · fucked (beset) · shagged · dicked
Translations (35)
ru пизде́ц (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ja 一巻の終わり (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ru бухо́й (slang: intoxicated) · fi pulassa (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · pt quilhado (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ca fotut (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ru кирды́к (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · fi kännissä (slang: intoxicated) · ru кранты́ (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ga san fhaopach (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ca putejat (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · bg пиян (slang: intoxicated) · es del orto (slang: intoxicated) · ru капу́т (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · pt tramado (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · tr ayvayı yemek (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · fi kusessa (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · pl nawalony (slang: intoxicated) · pl w tarapatach (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · cmn 完蛋 (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · sv pantad (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · es en el horno (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · nl in de nesten (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ca fastiguejat (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · pt lixado (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · es cagado (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · de in der Scheiße stecken (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · es jodido (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ru каю́к (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · pt fodido (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ru хана́ (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · is í súpunni (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · es apañado (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · ru кры́шка (beset with unfortunate circumstances) · fr foutu (beset with unfortunate circumstances)