Party with Benjamin Franklin

If you could pick one Founding Father to party with, Ben Franklin wouldn't be a bad choice. The man knew a lot of things, not least of which was how to have a good time. Sam Adams might also be a good choice, if Franklin's syphilitic French orgies aren't your speed.

But for tonight, it's all about the Benjamin, as we party vicariously with the coolest man ever to wear a beaver toque.

The Village People called. They want their hats back.

In Poor Richard's Almanac, Franklin published a list of 228 ways to say somebody is drunk, entitled The Drinker's Dictionary. Mind you, this was published in 1737. I think some of these should work their way back into the American lexicon.

He is Addled
He’s casting up his Accounts
He’s Afflicted
He’s in his Airs

He’s Biggy
Bewitched
Block and Block
Boozy
Bowzed
Been at Barbados
Pissed in the Brook
Drunk as a wheel-Barrow
Burdocked
Buskey
Buzzey
Has stole a manchet out of the Brewer’s Basket
His head is full of Bees
Has been in the Bibbing plot
Has drank more than he has Bled
He’s Bungey
As drunk as a Beggar
He sees the Bears
He’s kissed Black Betty
He’s had a thump over the head with Sampson’s jaw Bone
He’s Bridgey

He’s Cat
Cagrined
Capable
Cramped
Cherubimical
Cherry merry
Wamble Cropped
Cracked
Concerned
Half way to Concord
Has taken a Chirriping-glass
Got Corns in his head
A Cup to much
Coguy
Copey
He’s heat his Copper
He’s Crocus
Catched
He cuts his Capers
He’s been in the Cellar
He’s in his Cups
Non Compos
Cocked
Curved
Cut
Chipper
Chickery
Loaded his Cart
He’s been too free with the Creature
Sir Richard has taken off his Considering Cap
He’s Chap-fallen

He’s Disguised
He’s got a Dish
Killed his Dog
Took his Drops
It is a Dark Day with him
He’s a Dead man
Has Dipped his bill
He’s Dagged
He’s seen the Devil

He’s Prince Eugene
Entered
Wet both Eyes
Cock Eyed
Got the pole Evil
Got a brass Eye
Made an Example
He’s Eat a toad & half for breakfast
In his Element

He’s Fishy
Foxed
Fuddled
Sore Footed
Frozen
Well in For it
Owes no man a Farthing
Fears no Man
Crump Footed
Been to France
Flushed
Froze his Mouth
Fettered
Been to a Funeral
His Flag is out
Fuzzled
Spoke with his Friend
Been at an Indian Feast

He’s Glad
Groatable
Gold-headed
Glazed
Generous
Boozed the Gage
As dizzy as a Goose
Been before George
Got the Gout
Had a kick in the Guts
Been with Sir John Goa
Been at Geneva
Globular
Got the Glanders

Half and Half
Hardy
Top Heavy
Got by the Head
Hiddey
Got on his little Hat
Hammerish
Loose in the Hilts
Knows not the way Home
Got the Hornson
Haunted with evil spirits
Has taken Hippocrates grand elixir

He’s Intoxicated

Jolly
Jagged
Jambled
Going to Jerusalem
Jocular
Been to Jericho
Juicy

He’s a King
Clips the King’s English
Seen the French King
The King is his cousin
Got Kibbed Heels
Knapt
Het his Kettle

He’s in Liquor
Lordly
He makes indentures with his Legs
Well to Live
Light
Lappy
Limber

He sees two Moons
Merry
Middling
Moon-eyed
Muddled
Seen a flock of Moons
Maudlin
Mountous
Muddy
Raised his Monuments
Mellow

He's eat the cocoa Nut
Nimptopsical
Got the Nightmare

He's Oiled
Eat Opium
Smelt of an Onion
Oxycrocium
Overset

He drank till he gave up his half-Penny
Pigeon eyed
Pungey
Priddy
As good conditioned as a Puppy
Has scalt his head Pan
Been among the Philistines
In his Prosperity
He's been among the Philippians
He's contending with Pharaoh 
Wasted his Paunch
He's Polite
Eat a Pudding bag

He's Quarrelsome

He's Rocky
Raddled
Rich
Religious
Lost his Rudder
Ragged
Raised
Been too free with Sir Richard
Like a Rat in trouble

He's Stitched
Seafaring
In the Suds
Strong
Been in the Sun
As drunk as David's Sow
Swamped
His Skin is full
He's Steady
He's Stiff
He's burnt his Shoulder
He's got his top gallant Sails out
Seen the yellow Star
As Stiff as a ring-bolt
Half Seas over
His Shoe pinches him
Staggerish
It is Starlight with him
He carries too much Sail
Stewed
Stubbed
Soaked
Soft
Been too free with Sir John Strawberry
He's right before the wind with all his Studding
Sails out
Has Sold his Senses

He's Topped
Tongue-Tied
Tanned
Tipium grove
Double Tongued
Topsy Turvy
Tipsy
Has swallowed a Tavern Token
He's Thawed
He's in a Trance
He's Trammeled

He makes Virginia fence
Valiant
Got the Indian Vapors

The malt is above the Water
He's Wise
He's Wet
He's been to the salt Water
He's Water-soaken
He's very Weary
Out of the Way.

Photos from: Great Seal, Virtual Museum of Public Service, This New England Blog.

Cheers,
Callie R