Here's a breakdown of its evolution:
* Old English: The word "piss" originally referred to urine.
* Middle English: The phrase "to piss" began to be used as a euphemism for drinking alcohol, particularly beer.
* Early Modern English: The phrase "to get pissed" emerged as a way to describe becoming drunk, likely from the idea that drinking alcohol leads to frequent urination.
Over time, the meaning of "pissed" shifted from drunk to angry. This shift happened because of the association of being drunk with losing control and behaving in a way that might be considered angry or aggressive.
Therefore, the modern idiom "to get pissed" means to become angry, but it retains a connection to its origins in the physical effects of alcohol consumption.
It's important to note that while "to get pissed" is a common idiom in some English-speaking countries, it can be considered vulgar in others.