# it's five o'clock somewhere

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/its-five-oclock-somewhere
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- It is only noon, but it is five o'clock somewhere.
- You can have a glass of wine now because it is five o'clock somewhere.
- Let's open the champagne early; it is five o'clock somewhere.
- We finished our project early, so let's grab a beer because it is five o'clock somewhere.
- I know we usually wait until dinner, but since we are on vacation, it is five o'clock somewhere.
- My neighbor started his barbecue at ten in the morning, claiming that it is five o'clock somewhere.
- Although the sun had barely risen, the weary travelers toasted their arrival, jokingly insisting that it is five o'clock somewhere.

## Origin

First recorded in the mid-20th century, the phrase relies upon the social convention that prohibits the consumption of alcohol before the conclusion of the working day, typically 5 PM. It alludes to global time offsets to suggest that the hour has been reached in another jurisdiction, rendering the immediate drink permissible by proxy.

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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.