liquor up
liquor up (phrasal verb)
/ˈlɪkər ʌp/
Meaning
- Drink alcohol to the point of intoxication.
- Provide someone with alcohol, often to lower their inhibitions or manipulate them.
- Get slightly drunk before an event or activity.
- Encourage or pressure someone to drink alcohol.
Synonyms: drink; booze; tipple; imbibe; indulge; guzzle.
Example Sentences
- He likes to liquor up before heading to the party.
- They tried to liquor up the witness to make him talk.
- We liquored up a bit before the concert started.
- She liquored him up to get the truth out.
Origin and History
To understand “liquor up,” it’s essential to first grasp the historical meaning of the word “liquor” itself. The term “liquor” comes from the Old French “licour,” which in turn derives from the Latin “liquor,” meaning “liquid” or “fluid.” Initially, around the early 13th century, “liquor” referred to any substance in a liquid state. Over time, its meaning narrowed. By around 1300, it began to specifically refer to “fermented or distilled drink,” particularly wine. The broader sense of “liquid” seems to have largely become less common by the 18th century, cementing its association with alcoholic beverages.
From “Moisten” to “Intoxicate”
The verb “liquor” also has a rich history. Around 1500, “to liquor” meant “to moisten.” By the 1550s, it evolved to mean “to supply with liquor.” The more specific sense of “to drink intoxicating liquor” emerged around 1839. This progression shows a gradual shift from a general liquid application to a very specific act of consuming alcohol.
Earliest Printed Record
The phrase “to liquor up,” meaning “to get drunk,” is recorded as appearing around 1845. This suggests that adding “up” to the verb “liquor” emphasized the act of consuming a significant amount of alcohol, leading to intoxication. The “up” here acts as an intensifier, indicating a completion or thoroughness of the action, similar to other phrasal verbs like “fill up” or “drink up.”
Country of Origin: The United States
While the root word “liquor” has European origins, the specific idiom “liquor up” appears to have emerged in the United States. Many linguistic sources and dictionaries identify “liquor up” as US or North American slang. This suggests that the phrase likely developed within American English colloquialisms during the 19th century, a period of significant linguistic innovation in the country.
Imaginative Theories on the “Up” Component
Beyond the established etymological progression, one can imagine a few less formal, more imaginative theories for the addition of “up” to “liquor”:
The “Filling Up” Theory
This theory suggests that “liquor up” might evoke the imagery of “filling oneself up” with liquid. Just as one might “fill up” a glass, “liquoring up” could imply the act of consuming enough alcohol to feel full, heavy, or saturated with its effects.
The “Rising Spirits” Theory
Another idea could be that “up” refers to the initial, often euphoric, feeling of rising spirits or an elevated mood that comes with drinking alcohol. Before the effects of intoxication become negative, there’s often a sense of uplift, and “liquoring up” could metaphorically describe reaching that elevated state.
The “Completeness” Theory
The “up” could simply be a common intensifier in English phrasal verbs, emphasizing the completion of an action. “Liquoring up” would therefore mean completely and thoroughly drinking, leading to the full effect of drunkenness. This aligns with common usage of “up” to denote thoroughness, like “clean up” or “finish up.”
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