# on the sauce

idiom · CEFR C1 · Slang

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

## 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.

## 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.

---

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.