glow, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

glow n.

[the reddening of some drinkers’ faces]

the euphoric state of being intoxicated by drink or drugs.

1956		‘James Updyke’ [W.R. Burnett] It’s Always Four O’Clock 146: In spite of the brandy-glow I was developing, I felt kind of sorry for her.
1967		P. Thomas Down These Mean Streets (1970) 202: You had to be a lot harder to be a pusher; you couldn’t have a soft heart, like ‘no dough, no glow’.
1969		R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 101: glow (1) high.

get a glow on (v.) (also get a glow up, have a glow on)

1. (orig. US) to become intoxicated by drink or drugs.

[1896		‘’Arry on Spring-Time and Sport’ in Punch 18 Apr. 184/3: Till wot with Spring feelings and Scotch, I declare I feel all of a glow].
1953		R. Chandler Long Good-Bye 284: He went away and came back with the drink. I pecked at it to make it last, because I didn’t feel like getting a glow on.
1963		A.S. Fleischman Venetian Blonde (2006) 218: It was clear enough that he had a glow on.
1971		E.E. Landy Underground Dict. (1972).
1972		J. McNeill Old Familiar Juice (1973) 794: dadda I’m startin’ ter get a glow on already.
1986		R.G. Barrett Real Thing 161: They were laughing like drains, each with quite a glow on.
1985		Zimberg et al. Practical Approaches to Alcoholism Psychotherapy 111: ‘I wanted to get a glow on,’ is a common response along with ‘I wanted to get a little high.’.
2006		P.M. Levesque Confessions of a Dylanomaniac 458: [We] put back enough Jack’s to get a glow on.
2006		B. Matthews Intractable [ebook] Terry and I would hit the cell to get a glow up.
2023		(con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 11: Max and Harry passed their flasks. The Hats plus Freddy O. got a good glow on.

2. to be happy (without artificial stimulus).

2012

W.D. Myers Cruisers: A Star is Born 92: She was really an angel and she needed to get her glow on despite what bad things came her way.