In what context would one use "verpeilt"?

Question

Does "verpeilt" have negative connotations?
Is it something one does intentionally?

EDIT: Example for my case: "Ich hab mich irgendwie echt mega verpeilt."

EDIT 2: The context being that the speaker had not contacted for a long while and were excusing themselves for it.

I searched online but could not get a satisfactory contextual meaning and usage.

Answer 1

One dictionary says:

VERB verpeilen | verpeilte | verpeilt
SYNO säumig | unpünktlich | verspätet | zu spät | überfällig
verpeilt [ugs.]
dopey {adj} [coll.]
drugged {adj}
confused {adj}
___jd. verpeilt etw. [ugs.] [vergisst etw.]
_____sth. slips sb.'s mind [coll.]
___jd. hat etw. verpeilt [ugs.] [… vergessen]
_____sth. slipped sb.'s mind [coll.]
___verpeilt sein [ugs.] [fig.] [das rechte Winkelmaß verloren haben]
_____to not be with it
___verpeilt sein [ugs.] [Jugendsprache]
_____to be out of it [coll.]

That would answer your initial question with: Yes, usually verpeilt has negative connotations, but also: yes, sometimes this is "done" intentionally.

As this was overlooked or flat out denied as even existing in the other answers: The sub case of verpeilt as a negative thing that is at the same time turned into a positive thing:

As a slang expression among recreational drug users:

Boah, ey, war ich gestern verpeilt!

This indicates that the drug – usually alcohol or marihuana – had quite an effect on cognitive (or even more basic) processes.
If taken 'medicinally' this is usually listed as (unwanted) "side-effect".

In this case verpeilt as in "out of one's mind" or "drugged" is an indication of strong stuff consumed in 'sufficient quantities'. And the associated state or condition is regarded as desirable among aficionados.

This is examplified in numerous song lyrics, like this one:

Stumpf und verpeilt,
doch eher wie geil, so.
Leichtsinn befreit, wir fliegen high, so high.
_{Rakede: Stumpf und verpeilt}

One of the more typical trip reports sounds like this:

Das zweite mal habe ich auf einem Festival konsumiert, da waren es dann etwa 250mg über den Abend verteilt, ich hab am Schluss raus um 4 oder 5 morgens auch noch paar Tüten geraucht, dass ich teilweise auf der Tanzfläche zu mir gekommen bin und erstmal paar Sekunden gebraucht habe, um zu merken wo ich überhaupt bin und was ich mache. Hab dann auch überall Leute gesehen und Sachen gehört, aus den Zelten der Leute kam Musik, beim Schlafen hatte ich das Gefühl, dass ständig irgendwer im Zelt flüstert usw., total verpeilt halt. Der nächste Tag war eigentlich auch garnicht so krass, wie ich es mir vorgestellt hatte, klar ich war am Arsch und wirklich gut drauf war ich auch nicht. Da aber da erst Samstag war hab ich abends mit Alkohol und Gras weitergefeiert, und es hat mir auch Spaß gemacht.
_{Source:Land der Träume: Scheine auf mdma nicht klar zu kommen - LSD?}

And this confession is apparently even worn with pride by 16-year-olds on shirts printed upon school graduation:

_{Source: Abschlussmotive passend zum Abschlussspruch "Alle Verballert, Verpeilt, Verschallert, Druff"}

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The updated sub question now reads

EDIT: Example for my case: "Ich hab mich irgendwie echt mega verpeilt."

but the possible contexts around this make this very hard to pinpoint to just one translation.

One suggestion that retains most connotations might be: "I got really/somehow fucked up." In a milder way: "I (got) really screwed up."

Context dependent liberal translations:

I was supposed to file my taxes yesterday, but I totally missed to do that on time. (Bummer!)
Ich sollte bis gestern meine Steuern eingereicht haben, aber ich hab es total verpeilt(, das rechtzeitig zu tun).

I took three butterfly pills at once yesterday and that somehow really fucked me up. (Look what a hero I am having fun: that was great/intense)
I habe gestern drei Schmetterlingspillen auf einmal eingenommen. Dabei hab mich irgendwie echt mega verpeilt.

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Update2: Given the context "that the speaker had not contacted for a long while and were excusing themselves for it."

Ich hab mich irgendwie echt mega verpeilt.

Would become: I had quite some other things on my mind (-> unconcentrated & disorganised) and somehow I therefore missed out big to contact you earlier.
(Meant as an excuse: it says someone was almost forced to forget by being busy.)

Answer 2

I know two kinds of usage for "verpeilt":

• verpeilt sein (e.g. "Ich bin heute wieder total verpeilt") meaning to be unconcentrated

• etwas verpeilt haben (e.g. "wolltest du nicht dein Zimmer aufräumen?" "Ohje, das hab ich völlig verpeilt") which means to have forgotten something.

Both have a slight negative, not rude, colloquial meaning

The meaning could stem from "Peilung" (seeking direction)

Answer 3

• It's usually not a positive thing to be 'verpeilt', but I'm not aware of any additional negative connotation
• It's certainly not something one does intentionally. You could be blamed for not exercising due care, though.
• You can use 'verpeilt' if someone makes an honest mistake because his train of thoughts is on the wrong track. There's an implicit error of reasoning or you're simply lacking in concentration. It's usually not a grave error. You can be called 'verpeilt' if you mess up simple calculations in your math homework, or if you try to put on your shoes the wrong way. The word is used in colloquial speech only, as far as I'm aware of.

Answer 4

Since both existing answers focus on a temporary property of being unconcentrated, it's worthwhile pointing out that “verpeilt” also has a more permanent meaning which suggests a chaotic mind, a person incapable of e.g. organizing their life/work, keeping appointments, arguing coherently, etc.

For instance, a typical usage might be: “Gut, dass Barbara nicht mehr in unserem Team ist – sie ist ganz schön verpeilt; ich finde es anstrengend, mit ihr zu arbeiten.”