fall off the wagon

fall off the wagon

1. To return to drinking alcohol after a period of abstinence. Usually said of recovering alcoholics. There have been a few times that I've nearly fallen off the wagon, but thinking of my responsibility to my daughter helps keep me sober.
2. By extension, to return to any discontinued behavior, usually one that is detrimental in some way. I gave up smoking for nearly a year, but I fell off the wagon at Jeff's bachelor party.
See also: fall, off, wagon
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fall off the wagon

1. in. to resume drinking after having stopped. (The wagon is presumed to be the water wagon.) It looks to me like he wanted nothing more than to fall off the wagon.
2. in. to resume any previously stopped behavior including smoking, drug use, overeating, or any other disavowed behavior. He’s back to watching TV again. Fell off the wagon I guess.
See also: fall, off, wagon
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • dry
  • lay off the bottle
  • get down to some serious drinking
  • snozzle-wobbles
  • wobble
  • bus
  • ork-orks
  • snakebite medicine
  • bow to the porcelain altar
  • skate
References in periodicals archive
One powerful moment in the Channel 4 series - which was written by Shane Meadows and starts on Wednesday at 9pm - sees his alcoholic character Joe fall off the wagon.
"If you fall off the wagon, you fall off the wagon," he said.
And for those who find the one-month challenge a bit too daunting, there's the 'tipple tax' which allows Dryathletes to donate a PS20 penalty for each time they fall off the wagon.
Farage likes the odd beer, like the 13th or 15th, so there has to be a chance he will fall off the wagon, even if only to check there are no illegal immigrants beneath it.
Affleck checked into rehab in 2001 only to fall off the wagon nine years later.
Director Andrew Payne said: "With the introduction of our new airport kiosks, there is now no reason for ex-smokers and those trying to quit, to fall off the wagon while they are away, be that on business or on holiday.
Research by the outdoor fitness company found that people have great intentions at the start of the year, but fall off the wagon after just a few weeks.
"When it comes to maintaining my health I didn't just fall off the wagon. I let the wagon fall on me" - Oprah Winfrey after saying she has gained 40lb (nearly three stone) since 2006
Lohan's spectacular fall off the wagon really should elicit some sympathy but she seems to be having far too good a time for us to worry about her.
Instead of paying for rehab it should be free, then if they fall off the wagon it's their look out.
"People fall off the wagon. I do not fall off it, I go beserk and binge drink.
An alcoholic who plans to fall off the wagon will simply stop taking the Antabuse.
A plausible explanation for the finding that treated alcoholics were more likely to be drinking abusively is the all-or-nothing message taught by A.A.-style programs: When people who have undergone traditional treatment fall off the wagon, they're convinced that it marks the beginning of a binge, which then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Ad Age quotes food industry observers who note that low fat brands are fighting a trend that has consumers eating fewer treats but wanting high indulgence ones when they do fall off the wagon.
But all those champagne celebrations mean he's starting to fall off the wagon.