the full shilling

the full shilling (plural not attested)

1. (UK, Ireland, chiefly in the negative) In control of one's mental faculties; sane; all there.
   • 2006, Chris Sullivan, Broad Soldiers: Tom Grove Goes Naked, page 39:

     It served her well, as her husband Bill, a small, quiet man, sustained shell-shock in the war and although pleasant, was not the full shilling. Whenever he wandered over to me to start a conversation I would always feel very uncomfortable.

   • 2008, Geraldine O'Neill, Tara's Destiny:

     She shook her head, sighing deeply. 'There are times when I wonder is he the full shilling at all? […]

• the full quid
• the full ticket