tie one on
To drink alcohol excessively, to the point of being drunk
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He decided to tie one on after a long week at work.”
“The team went to the local pub to tie one on after they finished the difficult project.”
“Following the disappointment of the failed merger, the executives retreated to the lounge to tie one on and forget their professional woes.”
disputed origin
Attested in the 1940s, the phrase is a variation of the earlier tie a bun on, where bun refers to a drunken spree. This usage is thought to be derived from bung. The specific mechanics of tying the object to one's person remain unrecorded.
- 01
as best one can
In the best possible way, given one's circumstances and abilities.
- 02
as far as one knows
To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.
- 03
back to square one
Located back at the start, as after a dead end or failure.
- 04
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 05
become one flesh
To join together in marriage; to develop a unifying bond as a result of marrying.
- 06
bite off more than one can chew
To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.
- 07
bite the big one
To perform poorly; to fail.
- 08
bite the hand that feeds one
To cause harm to a benefactor (especially one that one is dependent on, thus with the idea that this behaviour is self-damaging).
Last updated August 10, 2026