From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishin your cupsin your cupsBritish English old-fashionedDRUNK drunk, or when drunk By the time Anthony arrived, Richard was already deep in his cups. → cup
Examples from the Corpus
in your cups• She had already been in her cups, and became hysterical, and then suicidal.• He didn't know what was worse, Cranston sulking or Cranston in his cups.• He glared darkly at Cranston and hoped the coroner was not too deeply in his cups.• Most of them were well gone in their cups and offered no objection when Cranston knocked at the door and demanded entrance.• Had Gabriel publicly insulted him in his cups one night in the Raven, fatally offending that pompous conceit?• The two men-at-arms leered but promptly buried their noses in their cups.• Gentlemen, we have all drunk too much at times and seen others in their cups.• Also she knew Shill to be a toper and, when in his cups, a man of violence. 