whirling pits
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An unpleasant sensation of spinning after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I note with interest Paul Dawson's query as to whether or not one's direction of rotation during the alcohol induced phenomenon known as "the whirling pits" depends upon the hemisphere in which one is situated (Letters, 1 September, p 643).
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “whirling pits” mean?
An unpleasant sensation of spinning after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
Is “whirling pits” formal or informal?
whirling pits is generally slang.