14 Drink Idioms You Need to Know

1. A storm in a teacup – You might say that something was a storm in a teacup, if it created a lot of excitement or worry at the time it was happening, but then later, it turned out to be not worth worrying or being excited about.
   
   
   
   

1. Champagne taste on a beer budget – If someone has a champagne taste on a beer budget, it means that they like expensive things but they can’t afford it.
   
   
   
   

1. Drink like a fish – To drink like a fish means to drink large quantities of liquid, especially alcohol.
   
   
   
   

1. Dutch courage – If you have a date that you are really nervous about, you might have an alcoholic drink to gain some Dutch courage, which means you will feel more confident.
   
   
   
   

1. Hair of the dog – Hair of the dog refers to being able to cure a hangover by having another alcoholic drink, the morning after.
   
   
   
   

1. In hot water – To be in hot water means to be in trouble with someone because you have done something wrong.
   
   
   
   

1. No use crying over spilt milk – This idiom means that you shouldn’t complain or regret something that has already happened, because you can’t change it.
   
   
   
   

1. Not hold water – This expression refers to an explanation or argument that doesn’t seem to be correct or true.
   
   
   
   

1. Not my cup of tea – This idiom means that it’s not your kind of thing; you don’t like it. E.g. you might say going shopping is not your cup of tea because it’s too busy in the shops.
   
   
   
   

1. Of the first water – If something is of the first water, it means that it is of the finest quality.
   
   
   
   

1. Test the waters – If you aren’t sure that something is acceptable or will be successful, you might try it out before committing to it fully, i.e. you might test the waters by getting a day pass at the gym to see if you like it, rather than purchasing a yearly membership.
   
   
   
   

1. Water down – If you water down something, you make it weaker. For example, you might water down an idea in a speech, so that it is less extreme and so that people are more likely to accept it.
   
   
   
   

1. Water off a duck’s back – This expression can be used if you are saying negative comments to another person but the other person isn’t bothered by them. You could also say that the person is thick-skinned.
   
   
   
   

1. Water under the bridge – If you and your friend had an argument a few years ago, that caused problems in your friendship, but now you’ve managed to resolve your issues and become friends again, you could say that it’s water under the bridge because you have moved past it.
   
   

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