“Man, can you believe that party last night!? Jen was so shitfaced she forgot where her hotel was!”
“I need a night of fun tonight. What do you say we hit some clubs and get totally shitfaced?”
“Dude, call me a cab. I’m so shitfaced right now I can’t even walk.”
There are several ways to say someone is drunk, and if you haven’t heard the comments above exactly, you have probably been exposed or used the word “shitfaced” before. But what does it mean? And Where does it come from? And how do our Hangover Hospital experts get rid of your hangover after a night of drinking? Let’s take a deeper look into this word, what it means, and what we can do for your hangover when you are vacationing in Key West.
What Does ‘Shitfaced’ Actually Mean?
There are actually a couple of definitions for shitfaced, but when it is used with drinking, being ‘shitfaced’ refers to being in a state of complete drunkenness. On UrbanDictionary.com, there are several definitions that suggest being shitfaced is more than being a little buzzed or intoxicated. It generally refers to people who have had so many drinks after a night of fun that they are barely able to function, are ready to pass out, or have been vomiting.
- Some people also refer to an angry drunk as someone who is shitfaced.**
When Did We Start Using ‘Shitfaced’?
There is a general consensus that the word ‘shitfaced’ as we know it didn’t enter into our vernacular until the 1960s. It was a word that many have accepted as ‘frat boy’ slang of the time that has stuck with us since, though this might not necessarily be true. The term ‘shitfaced’ as a single word obviously comes from two words, and ‘shit’ has been used since the 1500s and still has the same meaning today. It wasn’t until the 90s, however, that it really started becoming popular and began appearing in more mainstream usages. So when did we actually start using ‘shitfaced’ as we know it today? It likely began in the 60s but really gained traction in the 90s, and we have been using it ever since.
Where Did ‘Shitface’ Come From?
The first actual occurrence of the word shitface was recorded in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales when the author refers to someone as a shitface, which back then was a derogatory term meaning someone was ugly, or that their face looked like “shit”. If you weren’t drinking and someone said to you today, “How’s it going, Shitface?” you can bet you would be just as offended as they would have been back in Chaucer’s day. This is one possible way that a drunk person became known as ‘shitfaced’, and the most commonly accepted reason. After too many drinks, their “faces” start to look terrible.
Other theories of how ‘shitfaced’ came to mean drunk could also have to do with the Scottish 1800s use of the word. The Scotts generally referred to their children as “little shits”, much like some parents still do today. They began using the term ‘shitface’ to describe someone who looked young, like someone who still looked like a “little shit” in the face. How does this term then start being used to mean drunk? It is possible that ‘shitface’ started to be applied to young drinkers who couldn’t hold their liquor.
- The last and probably least plausible origins for the word ‘shitfaced’ refers to a completely inebriated person because their faces are so close to the toilet as they are throwing up that they get ‘shit’ all over their faces.
When You Get a Hangover
At Hangover Hospital, we can’t cure being drunk. The only way to “sober up” is to let time pass. However, after you are sober, it doesn’t mean that your body will feel caught up. If you had too much to drink and find yourself with a hangover in the morning on your Key West vacation, give us a call. We come straight to you and relieve your hangover symptoms in less than an hour so you can get back to enjoying everything Key West has to offer.
- CALL NOW: 305.912.4911
**It is also important to mention that we at Hangover Hospital don’t condone unsafe drinking practices, and alcohol poisoning can be a serious effect of drinking too much alcohol. If you are planning on getting drunk, please drink responsibly and avoid getting so shitfaced that they have to pump your stomach, as this can lead to potential lasting damage and even death.