Tired and emotional
Encyclopedia
The phrase tired and emotional is a chiefly British euphemism
for drunk
. It was popularised by the British
satirical
magazine Private Eye
in 1967 after being used in a spoof diplomatic memo to describe the state of Labour
Cabinet minister George Brown
, but is now used as a stock phrase. The restraints of the parliamentary language
also mean it is unacceptable in the House of Commons to accuse an MP of being drunk, but one may use this or other euphemisms such as not quite himself and overwrought. The Guardian
describes the phrase as having joined those "that are part of every journalist's vocabulary". Because of this widespread interpretation, one source cautions professional British journalists against its use as "even if the journalist meant it literally", it could be considered defamatory.
, Brown appeared on the BBC
following the assassination of John F. Kennedy
in 1963, and a BBC presenter subsequently described him as "tired and emotional". In reality, Brown appeared on ITV
, and although he was criticised for his apparent intoxication, no evidence of the phrase being broadcast has been found.
It is also said to have its origin in a statement to the press by Brown's agent, Edward Eldred, who made excuses for him after he had behaved badly in public by saying that he was "tired and emotional". Others were less forgiving and one Foreign Office official said that "Mr. Brown was as tired and emotional as a newt." ("Pissed as a newt" is a British slang term for very drunk.)
The phrase became associated with Brown, who already had a reputation for alcohol abuse. The Sunday Times
wrote that "George Brown drunk is a better man than Harold Wilson
sober", but the The Independent
said "Brown became a bit of a figure of fun, and, thanks to Private Eyes favourite euphemism for his regular condition, he bequeathed the English language the expression "tired and emotional"
The 1993 biography by journalist Peter Paterson, which among other things described "his fondness for the bottle", was titled Tired and Emotional: The Life of Lord George Brown.
appeared on RTÉ
, Ireland's state broadcaster, during its coverage of the 2002 World Cup
, and was taken off-air during the programme and suspended. Dunphy subsequently apologised to viewers, saying, "I arrived for work tired and emotional, I think is the euphemism. And I was tired. I'd had a few drinks. I hadn't slept and I think wasn't fit to fulfill my contract".
In 2004, Private Eye noted when The Sun
newspaper, after an incident involving Prince Harry
, then 20, quoted a "senior Clarence House
source" as saying that Harry was "fired up. He'd been drinking and was tired and emotional."
BBC foreign affairs correspondent John Simpson described the "erratic" Serbian politician Vuk Drašković
as "tired and emotional" in a live news report from Belgrade broadcast on the UK evening news, knowing that the British audience would understand the meaning. The only remaining description of Drašković in this way is in the article "Change in the air in Belgrade".
The Wall Street Journal used the euphemism in September 2010 to describe the Irish Taoiseach
Brian Cowen
after he was accused by Fine Gael
politician Simon Coveney
on Twitter
of being "halfway between drunk and hung over" during an early morning radio interview.
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for drunk
Drunkenness
Alcohol intoxication is a physiological state that occurs when a person has a high level of ethanol in his or her blood....
. It was popularised by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
magazine Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
in 1967 after being used in a spoof diplomatic memo to describe the state of Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Cabinet minister George Brown
George Brown, Baron George-Brown
George Alfred Brown, Baron George-Brown, PC was a British Labour politician, who served as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1960 to 1970, and served in a number of positions in the Cabinet, most notably as Foreign Secretary, in the Labour Government of the 1960s...
, but is now used as a stock phrase. The restraints of the parliamentary language
Unparliamentary language
In a Westminster system, unparliamentary language is words or phrases that are deemed to be inappropriate for use in the House whilst it is in session. This includes, but is not limited to the suggestion of dishonesty or profanity. The most prohibited case is any suggestion that another member is...
also mean it is unacceptable in the House of Commons to accuse an MP of being drunk, but one may use this or other euphemisms such as not quite himself and overwrought. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
describes the phrase as having joined those "that are part of every journalist's vocabulary". Because of this widespread interpretation, one source cautions professional British journalists against its use as "even if the journalist meant it literally", it could be considered defamatory.
Origin
According to an urban legendUrban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
, Brown appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
following the assassination of John F. Kennedy
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
in 1963, and a BBC presenter subsequently described him as "tired and emotional". In reality, Brown appeared on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, and although he was criticised for his apparent intoxication, no evidence of the phrase being broadcast has been found.
It is also said to have its origin in a statement to the press by Brown's agent, Edward Eldred, who made excuses for him after he had behaved badly in public by saying that he was "tired and emotional". Others were less forgiving and one Foreign Office official said that "Mr. Brown was as tired and emotional as a newt." ("Pissed as a newt" is a British slang term for very drunk.)
The phrase became associated with Brown, who already had a reputation for alcohol abuse. The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
wrote that "George Brown drunk is a better man than Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
sober", but the The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
said "Brown became a bit of a figure of fun, and, thanks to Private Eyes favourite euphemism for his regular condition, he bequeathed the English language the expression "tired and emotional"
The 1993 biography by journalist Peter Paterson, which among other things described "his fondness for the bottle", was titled Tired and Emotional: The Life of Lord George Brown.
Usage
In 2002, controversial Irish football analyst Eamon DunphyEamon Dunphy
Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...
appeared on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
, Ireland's state broadcaster, during its coverage of the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, and was taken off-air during the programme and suspended. Dunphy subsequently apologised to viewers, saying, "I arrived for work tired and emotional, I think is the euphemism. And I was tired. I'd had a few drinks. I hadn't slept and I think wasn't fit to fulfill my contract".
In 2004, Private Eye noted when The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
newspaper, after an incident involving Prince Harry
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, then 20, quoted a "senior Clarence House
Clarence House
Clarence House is a royal home in London, situated on The Mall, in the City of Westminster. It is attached to St. James's Palace and shares the palace's garden. For nearly 50 years, from 1953 to 2002, it was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is since then the official residence of The...
source" as saying that Harry was "fired up. He'd been drinking and was tired and emotional."
BBC foreign affairs correspondent John Simpson described the "erratic" Serbian politician Vuk Drašković
Vuk Draškovic
Vuk Drašković , leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, is a Serbian politician who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.He graduated from the University of Belgrade's Law School in 1968...
as "tired and emotional" in a live news report from Belgrade broadcast on the UK evening news, knowing that the British audience would understand the meaning. The only remaining description of Drašković in this way is in the article "Change in the air in Belgrade".
The Wall Street Journal used the euphemism in September 2010 to describe the Irish Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
after he was accused by Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
politician Simon Coveney
Simon Coveney
Simon Coveney is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as a Teachta Dála for Cork South Central since 1998. In March 2011 he became Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in Enda Kenny's coalition government....
on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
of being "halfway between drunk and hung over" during an early morning radio interview.