DRINKING
crack open a bottle
to open a bottle; to remove the cork or seal from a bottle, usually a bottle of an alcoholic drink.They cracked open a bottle to celebrate her arrival.Let's crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate.
drink to excess
to drink too much alcohol; to drink alcohol continually.Mr. Franklin drinks to excess.Some people drink to excess only at parties.
go on a binge
to do too much of something. (Slang. Especially to drink too much.)Jane went on a binge last night and is very sick this morning.Bill loves to spend money on clothes. He's out on a binge right now—buying everything in sight.
hair of the dog that bit one
a drink of liquor taken when one has a hangover; a drink of liquor taken when one is recovering from drinking too much liquor. (Informal.)Oh, I'm miserable. I need some of the hair of the dog that bit me.That's some hangover you've got there, Bob. Here, drink this. It's some of the hair of the dog that bit you.
have a pick-me-up
to eat or drink something stimulating. (The have can be replaced with need, want, etc. The me does not change.)I'd like to have a pick-me-up. I think I'll have a bottle of pop.You look tired. You need a pick-me-up.
here's to someone or something
an expression used as a toast to someone or something to wish someone or something wellHere's to Jim and Mary! May they be very happy!Here's to your new job!
hit the bottle
to drink alcohol to excess. (As if drinking directly from the bottle.)Fred goes home and hits the bottle every night.Bill has been hitting the bottle a lot lately. I think he has a problem.
knock something down and knock something back
to drink down a drink of something, especially something alcoholic.(Slang.)I don't see how he can knock that stuff down.John knocked back two beers in ten minutes.
on the rocks
[poured] onto ice cubes in a glass.Joan prefers her drinks on the rocks.Could I have a scotch on the rocks?
on the wagon
not drinking alcohol; no longer drinking alcohol.None for me, thanks. I'm on the wagon.Look at John. I don't think he's on the wagon anymore.
wet someone's whistle
to take a drink of something. (Folksy.)Wow, am I thirsty. I need something to wet my whistle.Hey, Sally! Give her something to wet her whistle.
beer
in. to drink beer.Fred and Tom sat in there watching the game and beering and belching like two old whales.Let's just sit here and beer for a while.
bong
tr. & in. to drink keg beer through a hose.Everybody bonged till the keg was empty.There were no cups, so people had to bong their beer.
bottom
tr. to drink something to the bottom.He bottomed the beer and ordered another one.Come on. Bottom that beer, and let's get out of here.
bust (some) suds
tr. to drink some beer.Let's go out and bust some suds.I'm tired of busting suds. Let's play cards.
crack a tube
tr. to open a can of beer.Why don't you drop over this evening, and we'll crack a few tubes?Would you crack a tube for me? My hands are too cold.
crack open a bottle
tr. to open a bottle of liquor. (Also with the.)Let's crack open a bottle and celebrate.He cracked the bottle open and poured a little for everyone to try.
crack some suds
tr. to drink some beer.Let's go out tonight and crack some suds.The guys wanted to watch the game and crack some suds.
cut the dust
tr. to take a drink of liquor.I think I'll stop in here and cut the dust.I want to cut the dust. Can I have a snort?
fall off the wagon
in. to resume continuous alcoholic drinking after having stopped.Poor Jed fell off the wagon again.It looks to me like he wanted nothing more than to fall off the wagon.
gargle
in. to drink liquor.They sat and gargled for an hour or two.Let's go out and gargle for a while.
gusto
in. to drink beer.Don't you ever do anything but gusto?Let's go out and gusto all night!
hang a few on
tr. to take a few drinks; to have a few beers.They went out to hang a few on.Let's hang on a few and then go on to the meeting.
happy hour
n. cocktail time.Happy hour starts at dawn for Harry.The hotel had a nice happy hour at five.
hold one's liquor
tr. to be able to drink alcohol in quantity without ill effects.Old Jed can sure hold his liquor—and a lot of it, too.I asked him to leave because he can't hold his liquor.
juice something back
tr. to drink alcohol.He's been juicing it back since noon.Juice back your drink, and let's go.
Mickey (Finn)
n. a drink containing chloral hydrate; a drink containing a fast-acting laxative.He slipped her a Mickey Finn, but she switched glasses.Once you've had a Mickey, you'll never forget it.
pot
n. a drinking vessel. (Old but still heard.)How about a pot of beer?Care for another pot?
rocks
n. ice cubes.No rocks, please. I like my drink warm.Can I have a few rocks in my drink, please?
scupper up
in. to drink liquor, especially beer.Tom goes home to scupper up every evening.Come on, you guys. Scupper up, and let's get outa here.
sixer
n. a six-pack beverage container. (Usually refers to beer.)Tom showed up with three sixers and a bushel of pretzels, and we all watched the game together.Please stop by the store and pick up a sixer.
slam
tr. to drink something quickly.Max slammed a couple of beers and left.Don't slam your coffee. You'll burn yourself.
slip someone a Mickey
tr. to secretly put a Mickey Finn in someone's alcoholic drink. (This drug either makes the victim ill or causes immediate diarrhea.)Somebody slipped Barlowe a Mickey and sent him into action.For a ten-spot, the bartender slipped Rocko a Mickey.
suck and suck something up
tr. to drink beer or liquor.Yeah, I'll suck one up with ya.Let's go out and suck up a few.
suck (some) brew and suck (some) suds
tr. to drink beer.Wanna go suck some brew?I'm tired of sucking suds. Got any staggers?
suds
in. to drink beer.How 'bout going out and sudsing for a while?They were sudsing when they should have been studying.
swill
tr. & in. to drink liquor.Ted is in his room swilling like a madman.He swilled a whole case of beer yesterday. Isn't he joyful yet?
torpedo
n. a drink containing chloral hydrate; a knockout drink.Barlowe signaled the bartender to give the stoolie a torpedo.The stoolie never knew it was a torpedo that wrecked him.
toss something off
tr. to drink something quickly.He tossed it off and ordered another.She tossed off a Scotch in one big swig.
What'll it be?
interrog. “What do you want?” (Typically said when offering someone drinks.)Okay, Mac, what'll it be?What'll it be, chum?
What's yours?
interrog. “What (or which) do you want?” (Typically said on offering drinks.)“What's yours?” said the bartender.The nice young man behind the counter looked to the right and left at all 140 flavors and said, “What's yours?”