Drinking & Smoking: English Vocabulary List

to become drunk just to forget something upsetting or disturbing

"He went to a bar to drown his sorrows."

"After losing his job he went to the bar to drown his sorrows with too much alcohol."

so intoxicated with alcohol that one starts behaving like a lunatic

"He was drunk as skunk."

"After the party, he was so drunk as a skunk that he started singing loudly and dancing erratically."

having consumed an excessive amount of alcohol and hence unable to think or act normally

"He was drunk as a lord."

"After drinking all night at the pub, he was as drunk as a lord."

incapable of acting or thinking like a normal person would, due to having consumed an excessive amount of alcohol

"She was drunk as a wheelbarrow."

"He drank too much at the party and was as drunk as a wheelbarrow."

to drink too much of alcoholic drinks on a regular basis

"He drinks like a fish at parties."

"At the party last night he managed to drink like a fish and stay cheerful."

(of praise, success, etc.) to make one feel too proud of oneself and degrade others

"Success went to his head."

"After winning the championship, the sudden fame went to his head, and he became arrogant."

used before drinking in honor of a person or thing

"Here is to success!"

"Let's raise our glasses; here is to the happy couple's future together."

someone who is not in any way affected by chemical substances or alcoholic drinks

"The driver is stone sober after leaving the party."

"He was stone sober because he had been the designated driver all night."

to become extremely drunk

"He got a load on."

"He went to the party planning to get a load on because he had received some terrible news about his job."

to make someone become so drunk that they have no control over their thoughts or actions whatsoever

"Give me a buzz."

"I will give you a buzz tomorrow morning so we can decide where to meet for lunch."

to have a glass of something, particularly an alcoholic drink

"He stopped at the pub to wet his whistle."

"After working in the garden all morning he stopped to wet his whistle with a cold glass of lemonade."

heavily under the influence of alcoholic drinks or drugs

"He was high as a kite."

"After taking those pills, he felt as high as a kite for hours."

to drink an excessive amout of alcohol and become extremely drunk

"I had one too many."

"He had one too many at the office party and made a fool of himself in front of the boss."

used to refer to someone who tends to drink an excessive amount of alcohol

"He has been on the bottle since his wife left."

"After losing his job he went on the bottle and drank heavily every single day for many months."

an alcoholic drink consumed to cure a headache that comes after excessive drinking

"He drank some whiskey as a hair of the dog."

"He drank a small beer the next morning as a hair of the dog to cure his terrible hangover."

used to refer to a cigarette, often to highlight the health risks associated with smoking

"He lit another coffin nail."

"He lit another coffin nail and the doctor warned him that smoking would kill him."

used to refer to a cigarette, often due to the well-known health risks associated with smoking

"The doctor told him to quit cancer sticks."

"The doctor told him to quit cancer sticks and switch to nicotine patches instead."

used for referring to a cigarette, often implying the harmful effects of smoking on one's lungs

"He tossed the lung dart in the ashtray."

"He tossed the lung dart in the ashtray and vowed to quit smoking for the hundredth time."

the strength or confidence that is obtained from drinking an excessive amount of alcoholic drinks

"He had Dutch courage."

"He needed some Dutch courage before he could ask his boss for a raise."

used to refer to a priod of time in which one avoids drinking alcoholic drinks

"I have been on the wagon for three months."

"After years of heavy drinking he finally decided to go on the wagon and has been sober for two years."

to start drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, particularly on regular basis

"He started to hit the bottle."

"After losing his job, he began to hit the bottle every single night."

used to refer to an occasion in which one drinks too much alcoholic drinks and becomes drunk

"He had one over the eight and fell asleep."

"He had one over the eight at the wedding and started telling embarrassing stories about the bride and groom."

to smoke a great number of cigarettes

"My dad smokes like a chimney."

"My grandfather has smoked like a chimney since he was a teenager."

(of alcoholic drinks) to make one extremely drunk

"That drink will go to your head."

"After a few too many glasses of champagne, the potent alcohol began to go to her head."

to make someone become so drunk that they have no control over their thoughts or actions whatsoever

"The beer gave him a buzz."

"The excessive amount of alcohol consumed at the party gave the young man a buzz, impairing his judgment."

(of drinks, particularly alcoholic beverages) with ice cubes in the glass

"Whiskey on the rocks."

"He ordered a simple scotch on the rocks, preferring the chill of the ice to dilute the flavor."