screwed

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Translations 1.3.3 See also 1.3.4 Usage notes 1.4 Verb 1.5 Quotations 1.6 References

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Etymology

• The modern sense of screwed originates in the mid-1600's with a sense of "to screw" as a means of "exerting pressure or coercion", probably in reference to instruments of torture (e.g. thumbscrews).^[1] It quickly gained a wider general sense of "in a bind; in unfortunate inescapable circumstances". When the verb "to screw" gained a sexual connotation in the early 1700's,^[2] it joined the long-lasting association of sexual imagery as a metaphor for domination, leading to screwed gaining synonyms like fucked and shagged. On a more general note, this is a prime example of the frequent tendency for verb participles to evolve into adjectives.
• The sense meaning "intoxicated" is from the early 1800's, and is associated with the term screwy, and the idiom to have a screw loose.^[1]

[edit] Adjective

screwed (comparative more screwed, superlative most screwed)

1. (slang) beset with unfortunate circumstances that seem difficult or impossible to overcome; in imminent danger.

   They found out about our betrayal, so now we're screwed.

2. (slang, British) intoxicated.

[edit] Synonyms

• (beset): fucked, shagged (British)

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• screwed up

[edit] Usage notes

Because the sexual act as a metaphor for domination is a frequent association for the term screwed, it is potentially offensive in polite circles.

[edit] Verb

screwed

1. Simple past tense and past participle of screw.

   He screwed the boards together tightly.

   I got screwed at the swap meet yesterday.

[edit] Quotations

• 1641, Richard Chambers (merchant), quoted in Hannis Taylor, The Origin and Growth of the English Constitution: An Historical Treatise, Part II: The After-Growth of the Constitution, H.O. Houghton & Company (1889), p. 274,

  […] merchants are in no part of the world so screwed as in England. In Turkey, they have more encouragement.

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "screw (n.)" in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001
2. ^ "screw (v.)" in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001