H - Page 724
hockey skated adj. Softened by drink into a booted glide, especially when crossing the polished floor at closing time. Levoy went hockey skated towards the cloakroom, gathering speed near the umbrellas. hockey socked adj. Sharpened by drink into a long, close-fitting determination to leave, without any corresponding increase in speed. Devance stood hockey socked in the taxi queue, ready for departure but fixed to the spot. hockey stick curved adj. Emboldened by drink to rise gradually through the evening, then accelerate sharply at last orders. Christopher-james became hockey stick curved, quiet until the final round and suddenly determined to continue. hockey sticked adj. Loosened by drink into an angled implement for locating coats, doorways and the nearest open takeaway. Hamdah went hockey sticked through the cloakroom, pointing at coats with both hands. hockey stopped adj. Slowed by drink to the point where a rapid change of direction requires both feet and a witness. Brockman went hockey stopped beside the kerb, turning perpendicular to the taxi queue. hockey taped adj. Drunk and wrapping every remaining object, plan and loose end before attempting to leave. Sadeem got hockey taped, securing a scarf, two receipts and an abandoned umbrella. hockeyed (/ˈhɒkid/) adj. Drunk beyond coordination, using the furniture as goals and the walking stick as sporting equipment. hockeyered adj. Drunk to the point where a straightforward route home requires repeated pursuit of a moving target. hockeyisted adj. Drunk enough to approach the taxi rank as a contest requiring stamina, positioning and a late substitution. Marretta became hockeyisted outside the pub, defending her place in the queue with quiet resolve. hockled adj. Drunk past the point of keeping the evening's separate strands in their intended order. Lorieann got hockled while collecting coats, twisting sleeves and ownerships together. hockshopped adj. Drunk beyond the point where the coat on offer is yours, but not beyond taking it for the journey. Lashounda left hockshopped, having exchanged her coat for one with better pockets. hocoed adj. Drunk, with the result that returning home acquires ceremony, applause and an unnecessary procession to the kitchen. Merrily got hocoed and entered the flat to the sound of her own careful clapping. hocumed adj. Of a drinker: still producing impressive-looking nonsense while the morning after quietly removes its foundations. Johnte was hocumed over breakfast, presenting a grand explanation for the missing house key. hocus and pocused adj. Drunk to the extent of substituting impressive gestures and nonsense for arranging the journey home. hocus pocusered adj. Reduced by drink to manufacture marvels from handkerchiefs, confident that the deception remains scholarly. hocus-pocused (/ˌhəʊkəs ˈpəʊkəsd/) adj. Drunk on the strength of a persuasive display of nonsense, particularly when last orders have already been called.