What is the meaning of the phrase "badly lit" in the following scene from the TV series Columbo (emphasis mine):
[Set in a court of law. Prosecution is attempting to prove their
client was injured falling down some stairs because they did not have
adequate lighting.]Prosecution Lawyer: The plaintiff alleges the stairs were badly
lit.Defence Lawyer: Although the plaintiff may well have been!
(Laughter all around)
It seems from the context that the phrase is being used to mean "drunk". If so, is this a common use. I've certainly never heard it before.
Best Answer
Lit is the past tense of light. It means that the stairs did not have good lighting (or more specifically, the person who set up the lighting on the stairs did a bad job.)
The joke is a pun that comes from the fact that lit or lit up can also mean drunk.