# hit the sauce

idiom · CEFR C1 · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hit-the-sauce
Updated: 2026-10-10

## Meaning

To drink alcohol regularly or in excessive amounts, often as a way to cope with problems or stress.

## Examples

- After he lost his job, he started to hit the sauce pretty hard every night.
- The veteran reporter was known for his brilliant writing, but his tendency to hit the sauce during his lunch break eventually cost him his column.
- While the protagonist's decline is portrayed with some sympathy, the narrative ultimately critiques his decision to hit the sauce rather than face his mounting legal responsibilities.

## Origin

The term 'sauce' has been used as a slang synonym for alcohol since at least the mid-19th century, likely referring to the liquid nature of spirits or the way alcohol 'seasons' a person's mood. The verb 'hit' implies a sudden or heavy engagement with the substance. It became particularly popular in American hardboiled detective fiction and noir cinema during the mid-20th century to describe characters struggling with alcoholism.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.