drink (redirected from drinking in the last chance saloon)

*in the drink

Fig. in the water; in the ocean. (*Typically: be ~;fall ~; throw someone ~.) He fell in the drink and had to be rescued.

(Could I) buy you a drink? 

1. Lit. Could I purchase a drink for you? (An offer by one person—usually in a bar—to buy a drink for another. Then the two will drink together. Also used with can or may in place of could.) When Sally and Mary met at the agreed time in the hotel bar, Sally said to Mary, "Could I buy you a drink?"

2. Fig. Could I make you a drink? (A slightly humorous way of offering to prepare and serve someone a drink, as in one's home. Also used with can or may in place of could.) Bill: Come in, Fred. Can I buy you a drink? I've got wine and beer. Fred: Great. A beer would be fine, thanks.

See also: buy

belt a drink down

Fig. to drink an alcoholic drink rapidly. (See also belt someone or something down.) She belted a couple of drinks down and went out to face her guests. How many drinks did Gloria belt down?

See also: belt

big drink of water and a tall drink of water 

1. Fig. a very tall person. Tim is sure a big drink of water. Kelly grew into a tall drink of water.

2. Fig. a boring person or thing. (A pun on "hard to take.") She is a big drink of water, but she could be worse. The lecture was a big drink of water.

See also: big, water

drink someone under the table

Fig. to be able to drink more alcohol than someone else. I bet I can drink you under the table.

See also: table

drink something down

to drink something; to consume all of something by drinking it. Here, drink this down, and see if it makes you feel better. Drink down this medicine.

drink something in

Fig. to absorb something; to take in information, sights, a story, etc. Terry and Amy drove up to the top of the hill to drink the sights in. They drank in the beautiful view.

drink something up

to drink all of something that is served or that is on hand. Who drank all the root beer up? I drank up the root beer.

See also: up

drink like a fish

Fig. to drink alcohol excessively; to be in the habit of drinking alcohol excessively. Jeff really drank like a fish at the party on Saturday. I worry about Nancy; she drinks like a fish.

See also: fish, like

drink to someone or something

to toast someone or something; to take an alcoholic drink in honor of someone or something. I'll drink to that! Let us drink to our guest of honor, Wallace J. Wilson!

drink to excess

Euph. to drink too much alcohol; to drink alcohol continually. Mr. Franklin drinks to excess. Some people drink to excess only at parties.

See also: excess

Drink up!

Finish your drink!; Finish that drink, and we'll have another! Okay, drink up! It's closing time. Drink up, and let's get going.

drive someone to drink

Fig. [for someone or something] to cause someone to turn to alcohol as an escape from frustration. Being a Cubs fan is enough to drive you to drink. She was driven to drink by the problems she had with her teenage son.

See also: drive

Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Prov. Enjoy yourself whenever you can, because you may die soon. ("Eat, drink, and be merry" by itself is simply a way of encouraging people to enjoy themselves.) Fred: No cake for me, thank you. I'm on a diet. Jane: But, Fred, this is a birthday party. Eat, drink, and be merry. Natasha encouraged all her guests to eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

See also: and, die, tomorrow

have an alcohol problem and have a drinking problem

Euph. to be a drunkard. He has an alcohol problem. It got so bad that he almost lost his job. If you have a drinking problem, our clinic can help.

See also: have, problem

I'll drink to that!

Inf. I agree with that! (Originally used as a reply to a proposed toast.) Great idea! I'll drink to that. That's a fine suggestion. I'll drink to that.

knock back a drink and knock one back; knock one over

Sl. to swallow a drink of an alcoholic beverage. Todd knocked back one drink, and then had another. Kelly knocked one back. She knocked one over and left the bar.

See also: back, knock

What are you drinking? 

1. Fig. a phrase inquiring what someone is already drinking so that the person who asks the question can offer another drink of the same thing. Bill: Hi, Tom. Nice to see you. Can I get you something to drink? Tom: Sure. What are you drinking? Bill: Scotch andwater. Waiter: What are you drinking, madam? Sue: It's just soda. No more, thanks. Waiter: Very good.

2. Fig. a phrase inquiring what is being drunk at a particular gathering so that the person asking can request the same drink. (A way of finding out what drinks are available.) Mary: Do you want a drink? Sue: Yes, thanks. Say, that looks good. What are you drinking? Mary: It's just ginger ale. Bill: Can I get you something to drink? Jane: What are you drinking? Bill: I'm having gin and tonic. Jane: I'll have that too, thanks.

What would you like to drink?

an offer to prepare or serve a drink. Bill: Come in and sit down. What would you like to drink? Andy: Nothing, thanks. I just need to relax a moment. Waiter: What would you like to drink? Alice: Do you have any grape soda? Waiter: I'll bring you some ginger ale, if that's all right. Alice: Well, okay. I guess.

See also: like

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

Prov. You can present someone with an opportunity, but you cannot force him or her to take advantage of it. Jill: I told Katy about all the jobs that are available at our company, but she hasn't applied for any of them. Jane: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

See also: but, can, horse, lead, make

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be meat and drink to somebody

if something is meat and drink to someone, they very much enjoy doing it and find it easy, although most people would find it difficult or unpleasant He gives all these talks to terrifyingly large audiences but it's meat and drink to Peter.

See also: and, meat

can't hold their drink/liquor

if someone can't hold their drink, they get drunk after drinking very little alcohol You can't hold your drink, that's your problem. Two beers and you're under the table.

See also: hold

drink somebody under the table  (informal)

if you can drink someone under the table, you can drink a lot more alcohol than they can I like a few beers but Mel can drink me under the table.

See drive to drink, can't hold drink

See also: table

drink like a fish  (informal)

to regularly drink a lot of alcohol Harriet had two bottles of wine with her meal - that girl drinks like a fish!

See also: fish, like

drive somebody to drink  (humorous)

to make someone extremely anxious and unhappy I just couldn't live with someone like Malcolm. It would drive me to drink.

See also: drive

the demon drink  (humorous)

a way of referring to alcohol when you are talking about the unpleasant effects it can have My grandfather used to lecture us about the dangers of the demon drink.

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drink to somebody (spoken)

to wish good health or good luck to someone Let's drink to Jessica's new job.

Usage notes: usually said as a toast (a short statement celebrating something and followed by everyone present drinking some wine or other liquid)

drive somebody to drink

to make someone regularly drink a lot of alcohol The death of a spouse can be enough to drive some people to drink.

See also: drive