Screwed

Pronunciation

Origin

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).

"screw (n.)" in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001

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,

"screw (v.)" in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001

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.

Full definition of screwed

Adjective

screwed

(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.
(slang, British) intoxicated.

James Joyce, DublinersBesides they were dreadfully afraid that Freddy Malins might turn up screwed. They would not wish for worlds that any of Mary Jane's pupils should see him under the influence...

Usage notes

Often employed as a bowdlerization, or substitution, for fucked.

Synonyms

(beset) fucked, shagged British

Derived terms

screwed, blued and tattooed
screwed, glued and tattooed

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.

Verb

screwed

screwed
(past of screw)
He screwed the boards together tightly.I got screwed at the swap meet yesterday.

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,â€¦ merchants are in no part of the world so screwed as in England. In Turkey, they have more encouragement.

longer quot for context, from Robert B. Ekelund, Jr., and Robert F. HÃ©bert, A history of economic theory and method, Fourth Edition, Waveland Press (1997), ISBN 1-57766-381-0, page 58:"The episode in question involves Charles I and his battle with Parliament over customs duties. King Charles claimed an "ancient right" to customs, but Parliament ultimately seized the exclusive power to set these duties in 1641. While Parliamenet was dissolved, the King reasserted his claim of absolute authority to levy taxes. However, merchant importers refused, in their own interests, to pay customs to the king, obeying instead Parliament's decree to refuse to pay any dutires not authorized by itself. The King retaliated by seizing the merchants' goods, whereupon several of them resisted and were brought befroe the Privy Council. Merchant Richard Chambers brazenly declared that 'merchants are in no part of the world so screwed as in England. In Turkey, they have more encouragement' (Taylor, Hannis, Origin and Growth of the English Constitution, p. 274)."