Cool MateDrunk vs You're wasted as a cabbie
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Drunk
InformalTop 2,000 (common)B1adjective
You're wasted as a cabbie
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Drunk
| Drunk | You're wasted as a cabbie | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/drʌŋk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/drʌŋk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊəˈr wɔɪstəd əz ə ˈkæbi//🇺🇸 //jʊr ˈweɪstɪd əz ə ˈkæbi// |
| Meaning | Having had too much alcohol. | You're drunk or not doing well in your job as a taxi driver. |
| Example | After a night out, he was completely drunk and unable to walk straight. | I can't believe how careless he was; you're wasted as a cabbie! |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, with, drunk driver, drunk driving | wasted as a cabbie, you're wasted, cabbie driving, drunk driver, taxi job |
| Antonyms | sober, clear-headed | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Drunk' used as a verb instead of an adjective., Confusing 'drunk' with 'drinking' (present participle)., Using 'drunk' in formal writing. | Confused with 'wasted' meaning to waste time., Using 'cabbie' in a formal context., Thinking 'wasted' only refers to drugs, not alcohol. |
| Usage notes | Use 'drunk' in casual situations. It's not suitable for formal contexts. Instead of saying 'drunk', you might hear 'intoxicated' in more serious discussions. | Used lightly among friends to comment on someone's state. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Drunk vs You're wasted as a cabbie
What's the difference between Drunk and You're wasted as a cabbie?
Drunk: Having had too much alcohol. You're wasted as a cabbie: You're drunk or not doing well in your job as a taxi driver.
Which is more common: Drunk and You're wasted as a cabbie?
Drunk is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Drunk: After a night out, he was completely drunk and unable to walk straight. You're wasted as a cabbie: I can't believe how careless he was; you're wasted as a cabbie!
Can I use Drunk and You're wasted as a cabbie interchangeably?
Not always. Drunk and You're wasted as a cabbie are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.