Phrase Finder

Idioms · 14 entries

Drink

What does "Drink" mean?

A slang term for lager.

Amber nectar

Originally the USA but only becoming widely used following its use as an advertising slogan by Foster’s Lager, initially in Australia.

Brahms and Lizst

Britain.

Designated driver

USA, 1980s

Don’t cry over spilt milk

Britain, 17th century proverb.

Drink like a fish

Britain, 17th century.

Elephant’s trunk

Britain.

Ginger Beer

Britain.

Hair of the dog

England, 16th century.

Liquor up

Britain, 16th century (to supply liquor). USA, 19th century (to drink liquor).

Rosie Lea

Britain.

Tea leaf

Britain.

Wine and dine

Worse for wear

1. Britain, 16th century. 2. Britain 20th century.

You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink

Britain, 12th century. One of the oldest proverbs in the English language

Entry 1

Amber nectar

Meaning A slang term for lager.

Usage Worldwide, but rarely by the over 60s.

Example

  • I've been in the outback all day rounding up sheep and my throat's as dry as a pommies towel. I'm just about ready to sink a few tinnies of the amber nectar.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

Brahms and Lizst

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for pissed.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Two bottles of wine at home and then four pints in the pub - he was totally Brahms by ten-o-clock.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Designated driver

Meaning Someone who agrees not to drink alcohol at a social event in order to be sober enough to drive others home.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • It really wasn't my turn to be designated driver this week but I was late arriving and by the time I got there all the others were already drunk.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Don't cry over spilt milk

Meaning Don't fret pointlessly about some mistake or loss when it can't be remedied.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Well, the vase is smashed. There's no point crying over spilt milk.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Drink like a fish

Meaning Drink very heavily.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Dean Martin drank like a fish.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

Elephant's trunk

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for drunk.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • He's been in the bar since we opened six hours ago. It's fair to assume that he's totally elephants by now.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

Ginger Beer

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for queer.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Julian is ginger - and I don't mean that he's got red hair.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

Hair of the dog

Meaning An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I feel rough. I shouldn't have had those last six tequila slammers last night. Here goes another - maybe it will be the hair of the dog.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

Liquor up

Meaning To supply or to drink alcoholic drink.

Usage Worldwide, but not commonly used everywhere.

Example

  • They decided to get liquored up in the pub, even before they got to the party.

Pronunciation

Entry 10

Rosie Lea

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for tea.

Usage Mainly Britain.

Example

  • Put the kettle on would you? I'd love a nice cup of rosie lea.

Pronunciation

Entry 11

Tea leaf

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for thief.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Just be careful to keep your purse safe when you go down to the market - there are plenty of tea leaves ready to steal it.

Pronunciation

Entry 12

Wine and dine

Meaning Entertain in a high class restaurant.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • We won an all-expenses paid trip to Paris. We were wined and dined every night for free.

Pronunciation

Entry 13

Worse for wear

Meaning Either 1. Shabby and worn out, or 2. Drunk.

Usage Both forms used Worldwide, although 2 is more common in Britain than elsewhere.

Example

  • 1. This winter coat is a few years old now and is starting to look a bit worse for wear. 2. I know it's Jack's leaving do and he wants to stay until the end but, after all those tequia slammers, he's begining to look a little worse for wear.

Pronunciation

Entry 14

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink

Meaning You can encourage someone to to do something but, in the end, what they do is their own choice.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I bought her a car; I even paid for the driving lessons, but she still travels everywhere by bus.

Pronunciation