ENGLISH
REFERENCE

it's five o'clock somewhere

idiom
Meaning

Used as an excuse for drinking alcoholic beverages outside of customary hours.


Origin

disputed origin

Related to the convention of not consuming alcohol prior to the end of working hours (generally 5 PM), and alluding to time offsets.

Examples
SIMPLE

It is only noon, but it is five o'clock somewhere.

CONTEXTUAL

We finished our project early, so let's grab a beer because it is five o'clock somewhere.

COMPLEX

Although the sun had barely risen, the weary travelers toasted their arrival, jokingly insisting that it is five o'clock somewhere.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all it's cracked up to be

    As good as claims or reputation would suggest.

  2. 02

    bat five hundred

    To be successful half of the time; to have a success rate of 50%.

  3. 03

    count to five

    Synonym of count to ten.

  4. 04

    drinks o'clock

    The time to begin social drinking.

  5. 05

    five will get you ten

    I strongly believe.

  6. 06

    get one's butt somewhere

    Go somewhere, especially quickly.

  7. 07

    gimme a five

    A request to receive a high five.

  8. 08

    if it's all the same

    If it makes no difference; if nobody minds; if it doesn't bother anyone.

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