Is there a word for the uncanny ability to find one's way home when extremely drunk?

Question

A small dispute broke out in the office today about this. Does anyone have any ideas?

Mathematicians call it Pólya's theorem (yes, it's a theorem that a drunkard will eventually return home, under a particular model realistic or not), but that's not what you were looking for. :-)

HorusKol · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-24 22:18:54Z

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Beerdar - as in beer-radar - although, that could just be something me and my student friends came up with.

answered Jan 24 '11 at 22:18

HorusKol
8801515

3

Shouldn't "beerdar" refer to an uncanny ability to find beer? – ShreevatsaR Jan 25 '11 at 9:21

1

@ShreevatsaR, perhaps, although in my experience there is nothing uncanny about that. – Brian Hooper Jan 25 '11 at 22:35

1

don't see why - radar is not a way to find radio waves (it uses them for 'direction and ranging') – HorusKol Jan 26 '11 at 7:21

Alex · Answer 2 · 2011-01-24 18:08:50Z

up vote 3 down vote

Not a one-word answer, but maybe "homing instinct"?

answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:08

Alex
3,425817

Brian Hooper · Answer 3 · 2011-01-24 22:57:48Z

up vote 3 down vote

One suggestion made during the dispute was "beer compass", but it was claimed that meant the same as "beer goggles".

answered Jan 24 '11 at 22:57

Brian Hooper
13.3k237100

1

If you believe Roger's Profanisaurus, beer compass is the right answer; beer goggles is not the same at all. – Brian Nixon Jan 26 '11 at 14:17

@Brian Nixon, thank you. I was inclined to suspect that. – Brian Hooper Jan 26 '11 at 17:42

Kaz Dragon · Answer 4 · 2011-01-25 09:57:51Z

up vote 2 down vote

Over here, we refer to this phenomenon as being on the "beer scooter."

answered Jan 25 '11 at 9:57

Kaz Dragon
526312

msh210 · Answer 5 · 2011-01-24 18:08:34Z

up vote 1 down vote

I don't know a term for this ability specifically, but it can be considered an example of a homing instinct.

answered Jan 24 '11 at 18:08

msh210
2,977722

5 Answers