skinful: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Colloquial/British informal)Informal, colloquial, primarily British/Irish English.
Quick answer
What does “skinful” mean?
A large amount of alcoholic drink.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large amount of alcoholic drink; enough alcohol to make one drunk.
Informal: a quantity sufficient to fill something; a large amount (of food, liquid, or sometimes abstract things like trouble). Primarily used in British and Irish English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in UK/Irish informal speech. Very rare in American English; an American listener would likely understand it but not use it. In the US, 'plastered', 'wasted', 'hammered', or simply 'drunk' are more typical.
Connotations
UK: Colloquial, often humorous or slightly disapproving. Can imply a lack of control. US: Would sound like a quaint Britishism.
Frequency
UK: Moderate frequency in informal contexts, especially among older speakers. US: Negligible frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “skinful” in a Sentence
[Subject] + have/got/had + a skinful[Subject] + be + after + a skinful (Irish English)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skinful” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He was absolutely useless after a skinful of lager.
- You could tell he'd had a skinful by the way he was singing.
American English
- (Rare) He sounded like he'd had a real skinful last night. (Marked as a Britishism)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely unlikely, except in very informal after-work settings.
Academic
Never used.
Everyday
Informal social contexts, often when discussing someone's state after a night out.
Technical
Not applicable.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skinful”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skinful”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it to mean a lot of food (possible but very rare).
- Using it in American contexts where it sounds unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very rarely and humorously. Its primary and almost exclusive meaning relates to alcohol. For example, 'a skinful of tea' would be understood as a joking exaggeration.
Not inherently offensive, but it is informal and can be judgmental depending on tone. It's less vulgar than many slang terms for drunkenness.
It's more common among older generations. Younger speakers might use it for humorous or ironic effect, but terms like 'wasted', 'hammered', or 'monged' are more current.
'Skinful' refers to the state of being drunk or the large amount of alcohol consumed. 'Hangover' refers to the unpleasant physical effects felt the day after drinking. You get a skinful *then* you have a hangover.
A large amount of alcoholic drink.
Skinful is usually informal, colloquial, primarily british/irish english. in register.
Skinful: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskɪnfʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskɪnˌfʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's had a skinful. (He is very drunk.)”
- “Don't let him drive, he's got a skinful.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your skin is full of alcohol – you've drunk so much it's filled you up to your skin.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A CONTAINER (for alcohol).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'skinful' be MOST appropriately used?