What does "reeling pickled" mean in The Outsiders?

"Reeling pickled" means extremely drunk and unsteady, as if someone is staggering around from alcohol. "Pickled" is slang for drunk, while reeling means swaying, stumbling, or feeling dizzy. Put together, the phrase describes someone who has had so much alcohol that they can barely move or think straight.

When Bob, Randy, and the other Socs confront Ponyboy and Johnny in the park, Ponyboy describes them as "reeling pickled." Their drunkenness contributions to the confrontation's danger and recklesslessness, leading to Bob’s death when Johnny acts to save Ponyboy. The slang phrase conveys how out of control the Socs are. In The Outsiders, alcohol often appears around moments when the conflict between Socs and greasers becomes more violent.