Brahms (English)

Where does "Brahms" come from?

The slang term 'Brahms' finds its roots in the colorful tradition of Cockney rhyming slang, where 'Brahms and Liszt' was used as a rhyme for 'pissed.' Over time, the phrase was shortened to just the first surname, 'Brahms,' to describe someone who is heavily intoxicated.

Full etymology tree

• Brahms (English), 'Pissed, drunk.'
  • clipping Brahms and Liszt (English), 'Pissed, drunk.'

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris