What does this mean? "Read:"?

Question

Like on Savage Love....

"Only on two occasions has she been in a deep enough sleep—read: drunk/passed out—"

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=241517
(explicit)

I mean I get the basic idea, but is it commonly used? Will I be understood if I use it?

Answer 1

"read:" in this context means something like "this should be read as", "read between the lines" or "what it really was, but no one dared to say outright" -- as I am sure you have surmised.

It's an informal aside -- a shortcut, a sideline commentary (sometimes snarky) in addition to the main point.

It is more commonly used in contemporary, urban language, where you can assume a certain educational level on the part of the reader. It's not plain language.

I thnk I see it written more often than spoken, but it can be understood spoken as well among people who are used to the usage.

It would be confusing to use it with ESL students, for example...

Answer 2

It means she was actually drunk, she had passed out. But being so direct can be a little unkind, so we're describing it using a milder expression (sleep). Although it's a common literary device (more in the nature of euphemism), I prefer to be direct.

Answer 3

It is a literary device that says "don't take the word 'sleep' seriously - she was really 'drunk' in this sentence."

It is kind of stilted and gets boring very quickly if you use it a lot.

Answer 4

maybe because she is speaking in an indirect language in another way read in betten the lines.