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. I'm worried about John—I think he may have fallen off the wagon. Don't worry, Doc, I've given up the booze for good. I know my liver's in bad shape and that I can't afford to fall off the wagon.

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. He gave up video games while he was studying for his final exams, but now that it's summer break he's fallen off the wagon again. I was really good about my diet, but I fell off the wagon and went for some fast food last night.

See also: fall, off, wagon

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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 Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.