helpful self, snoring it off

[kjc0123]

What is the meaning of "helpful self", "snoring it off" in the following sentences?

Ray was on one side of the desk, Harry Rex the other, their ties off and sleeves rolled up, with piles of evidence between them. Forrest was his usual helpful self. He'd drained half a six-pack for dessert after lunch, and was now snoring it off in the swing on the front porch.

[woofgang]

The phrase is intended to be sarcasm. It implies that Forrst never does any work ie is never helpful. Snoring it off simply means that the alcohol had made him go to sleep and he was snoring

[Didwot]

helpful self would normally mean that the person was helpful, but as Wolfgang points out it is being used sarcastically, and in your example means the opposite

[Kingaroo]

"Sleeping it off" is a common phrase for sleeping while drunk -- you sleep until the drunkenness wears off.

"Snoring it off" is the author's humorous way of saying it.

[flaming]

And, sleeping it off noisily - snoring in fact, as people collapsed on their backs through drunkenness  often do.

The insertion of the word 'usual'  is fairly crucial in that sentence, as that is the emphasis for the sarcastic remark.  When one is being sarcastic, or humourous, the word 'usual' underlines the intention, i.e. to make sure the reader or the listener is aware of the fact that the person being criticised is like that all the time.

e.g.    'her usual tidy self'  =  usually very untidy

or,      'his usual generous self' = usually very mean

          a firm's usual honest selves"=  usually dishonest

It can be said straightforwardly, but in common usage for many years, that phrase often denotes the sarcastic opposite view which one has of another person.  In speech, you could not mistake the intention because there would be the  appropriate facial expression or accompanying gesture.  Seeing the phrase written, you will just have to judge the context from the way the story progresses.