chain smoke

chain smoke

To smoke cigarettes continuously, such that one begins a new cigarette as (or almost as) soon as the last one is extinguished. My grandmother died of emphysema after chain smoking for most of her adult life.
See also: chain, smoke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

chain(-smoke)

in. to smoke cigarette after cigarette. (As if each cigarette were a link in a chain.) I never wanted to chain-smoke, but I got addicted.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
  • as one door closes, another opens
References in periodicals archive
It's easier to chain smoke or deliver baby's first fried
Obscene Supplement
CARLOS BILARDO doesn't chain smoke his way through a nerve- wracking 90 minutes or endlessly chew gum.
World of Football: FIFA in a spin over offside mess
On the last two occasions I have been out -to the pub and to a restaurant -both events were ruined by young women who lit up their cigarettes as soon as they arrived and then proceeeded to chain smoke through the evening.
Letter: Shortpoints
She said: "I don't bleach my teeth, I chain smoke, I'm flat-chested, I'm pale as a ghost and I've crow's feet."
the Razz: Selma's naked truth
Nasty Nigel Lythgoe now refuses to go anywhere with Si - because he chain smokes. Our source says: "Nigel told Simon he can't puff away in his presence because he had to give up smoking after his heart attack.
3am: Simon Cowell less than popular
The source said: "Harry chain smokes, which is the quickest way to sickness.
Harry is smoking 20 a day
Jackie chain smokes and eats constantly with out getting fat.
The Toronto International Film Festival (9/6-9/16/01). (Festival Wraps)