ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drive someone to drink

idiom
Meaning

To cause someone to drink lots of alcohol, as an escape from frustration.


Examples
SIMPLE

These noisy neighbors are driving me to drink.

CONTEXTUAL

The constant pressure from my boss is enough to drive anyone to drink.

COMPLEX

The endless bureaucratic delays and the sheer incompetence of the committee were enough to drive even the most patient person to drink.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  2. 02

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  3. 03

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  4. 04

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  5. 05

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

  6. 06

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

  7. 07

    catch someone napping

    To take advantage of someone's inattention.

  8. 08

    cry someone a river

    To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.

© 2026 English Reference