Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also well on) drunk or on one’s way towards being so.

1915		E.E. Jones diary 25 Dec. 🌐 Concert at night, and all our superior officers well away.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 125: He’s pretty well on, professor Mac Hugh said in a low voice.
c.1940–5		‘Myles na gCopaleen’ Best of Myles (1968) 338: Drunk; jarred; [...] merry; well on.
1943		‘Henry Green’ Caught (2001) 115: She [...] was well away by closing time.
1962		F. Norman Guntz 195: Every one in the joint was getting well away.
1979		A. Payne ‘The Dessert Song’ Minder [TV script] 21: Three youngish blokes at a table in the corner, obviously well away.
1980		J. McClure Spike Island (1981) 522: Rupert Brooke [...] it always is, when our mate here’s well away.
1998		Chaney Elizabeth David 97: Christopher was ‘well away’ by the end of the evening.
2000		N. Griffiths Grits 32: Wen an giv im enough vodka tuh knock im out. When ee’s well away, a put im on thuh couch in thuh spare room.

2. asleep.

1945

‘Henry Green’ Loving (1978) 56: I bet he’s well away after that dinner he ate. He’ll never stir.

3. making headway in a seduction.

1963

N. Dunn Up the Junction 29: Sylvie was well away in the back row at the New Vic.