Plastered, Hammered, and Other Euphemisms for Drunk

Plus, help us describe your lazy co-workers.

By Andy Bowers

To listen to Slate's latest euphemisms audio contest, featuring language columnist Barbara Wallraff, click the arrow on the player below:

Andy Bowers, the creator and executive producer of Slate podcasts, is the co-founder and chief content officer of Panoply.

You can also click here * to download the MP3 file.

Now that the holiday party season is a distant, and perhaps somewhat foggy, memory, Slate's audio euphemism contest is back with some perfect roundabout ways to describe the state many of us experienced: You know, a "rolling brownout," "kilketay," "tired and emotional" ... in other words, plastered.

To find out more about these phrases and others, plus the winner of our contest, play or download our latest audio program featuring language columnist Barbara Wallraff.

You don't need an iPod or other portable audio device to hear the program—you can play it right from your computer. Our new Flash audio player (above) should make it easier to listen to the show.

We're also announcing our next listener contest. This time, we're looking for interesting ways to describe that co-worker or boss who isn't exactly the most productive member of society. You know, that lazy, slacking, infuriating, or otherwise completely useless person in the next cubicle, up on the top floor, or at the other end of the phone.

As always, we strongly recommend that you listen to the program before submitting an entry. Here are the details:

Submit a euphemism for: workplace incompetents.

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2007.

E-mail address: podcast@wordcourt.com.

Prize: none (sorry). But winners will be noted on Barbara's Web site, www.wordcourt.com (visit the Library section to find previous winners), and she may include worthy entries in a future book much like her most recent book, Word Fugitives.

(By entering this contest, you grant Slate permission to use your name, unless you expressly request otherwise.)

For comments, not contest entries, write us at podcasts@slate.com.

* To download the MP3 file, right-click (Windows) or hold down the Control key while you click (Mac), and then use the "save" or "download" command to save the audio file to your hard drive.