# tie one on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tie-one-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To drink alcohol excessively, to the point of being drunk

## Examples

- 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.

## 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. (disputed)

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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.