Three Sheets to the WindThe surprising nautical origin of a common idiom.

From the show

History of Phrases

This common phrase for being drunk has a vivid nautical origin that might surprise you. It has nothing to do with bed linens or even a ship's sails. The term 'sheets' actually refers to the ropes that control the sails. When these ropes are loose, the sails flap wildly, causing the ship to stagger and lurch about—an apt metaphor for a person who has had a few too many.