Idiom
on the sauce
Slang
Meaning
To be drinking alcohol regularly or in large quantities, often implying a problem with addiction or a period of heavy consumption.
Examples
“He has been back on the sauce for a few weeks now, so he might not show up to the party.”
“After the scandal broke, the former senator was frequently spotted at local bars, clearly back on the sauce to cope with the public scrutiny.”
“The protagonist's tragic trajectory is marked by a cyclical struggle with sobriety, eventually succumbing to the lure of being back on the sauce despite the professional consequences.”
Examples
simple
“He has been back on the sauce for a few weeks now, so he might not show up to the party.”
contextual
“After the scandal broke, the former senator was frequently spotted at local bars, clearly back on the sauce to cope with the public scrutiny.”
complex
“The protagonist's tragic trajectory is marked by a cyclical struggle with sobriety, eventually succumbing to the lure of being back on the sauce despite the professional consequences.”
Real-World Examples
“The neighbor claimed abstinence, but the smell of whiskey means he is back on the sauce.” Origin
The term 'sauce' has been used as a slang synonym for alcohol since at least the late 19th century. The metaphor likely stems from the liquid consistency of alcohol and its role as a 'condiment' or accompaniment to social life, though it eventually took on a more negative connotation regarding dependency. The specific phrase 'on the sauce' became particularly popular in mid-20th century American English, often used in hard-boiled detective fiction and noir films to describe characters struggling with alcoholism.
Key words
Related idioms
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated