he's wasted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he's wasted' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as an informal way to describe a person as feeling the effects of alcohol or drugs. For example: After a hard night of drinking, he staggered home, clearly he's wasted.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

With this plane's disappearance, he's wasted no time in tweeting out messages of support to the family and has already arrived in Surabaya along with members of the Indonesian affiliate of AirAsia.

BBC

Seriously, he's football's time wasting God; he's wasted more time than Atlas and Sting combined.

Vice

He's wasted his life playing videogames - you know what I was saying earlier about enjoying the rewards of producing something.

The Guardian - Film

He longs for the days when he was like a young Charles Fort; now he's like an old Charles Fort, who has figured out he's wasted his life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There's nothing very surprising about the fact that Crowe doesn't believe in his own status or that, like Annie, he thinks he's wasted half his life.

The Guardian - Books

"He'd made progress in Australia but now he's wasted all that by showing Djokovic that, whatever his advantage and even on clay, Djokovic can get inside his head.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"I tell him he's wasting his time," Lloyd said.

The New Yorker

"They're like, 'He's wasting his time, he's wasting his life, he could have made $100 million.' But it's his own journey.

The New York Times

This isn't the first time Robert has questioned whether he's wasting his time on those services.

TechCrunch

I've already got it worked out, so he's wasting his words anyhow.

Huffington Post

"I knew he was wasted," Martin said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he's wasted" to describe intoxication, be mindful of your audience, as it is considered informal. In professional or formal settings, opt for more neutral terms like "he is intoxicated" or "he has had too much to drink".

Common error

Avoid using "he's wasted" when you mean "he's exhausted". "Wasted" typically refers to intoxication or squandered potential, while "exhausted" means extremely tired. For example, after running a marathon, he would be "exhausted", not "wasted".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he's wasted" primarily functions as a descriptive statement. It indicates that the subject is either heavily intoxicated or has squandered their potential. Ludwig provides examples showing both usages.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he's wasted" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression primarily found in news and media contexts. According to Ludwig, it is generally used informally to describe someone as intoxicated or to indicate that they have squandered their potential. While acceptable in casual conversation, more formal alternatives should be used in professional or academic settings. It's important to differentiate "wasted" from similar-sounding words like "exhausted" to avoid confusion. The authoritative sources citing this phrase include The Guardian, Vice, The New York Times and Huffington Post, highlighting its prevalence in journalistic content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is drunk

A straightforward and common way to say someone has consumed too much alcohol.

he is intoxicated

Replaces the informal "wasted" with a more formal term for being drunk.

he is smashed

Uses a different slang term, "smashed", to indicate a high level of intoxication.

he is squandered

Shifts the meaning to suggest someone's potential has been thrown away or not used effectively.

he has squandered his potential

Elaborates on the idea of wasted potential, making it clearer that someone's abilities are not being used.

he has ruined his chances

Indicates that someone has acted in a way that has damaged their opportunities or prospects.

he has missed his opportunity

Focuses on a specific missed chance or moment, suggesting a failure to capitalize on it.

he is useless

Changes the meaning to indicate that someone is not helpful or effective in a particular situation.

he is a dead loss

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that someone is unlikely to succeed or be of any value.

he is past his prime

Suggests that someone was once capable but is no longer at their best.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "he's wasted"?

When someone says "he's wasted", it typically means that person is very drunk or under the influence of drugs. It can also mean someone has squandered their potential or opportunities.

What are some alternative ways to say "he's wasted" when referring to intoxication?

You can use alternatives like "he is intoxicated", "he is drunk", or "he is smashed", depending on the context and level of formality.

How can I use "he's wasted" in a sentence?

You can use "he's wasted" in a sentence like: "After the party, it was clear that he's wasted and needed help getting home" or "He's wasted his talent on frivolous pursuits."

Is it appropriate to use "he's wasted" in a formal setting?

No, "he's wasted" is generally considered informal and is better suited for casual conversations. In formal settings, it's more appropriate to use phrases like "he is intoxicated" or "he has squandered his potential".