Drink sb down Meaning / Examples / How to Use Phrasal Verb

What Does “Drink sb down” Mean?

“Drink sb down” means to cause someone to drink a lot of alcohol, often quickly or insistently. It is used when encouraging or forcing someone to consume drinks, usually alcoholic ones.

Introduction

The phrase “Drink sb down” is a less common but interesting phrasal verb in English. It involves the action of making someone drink, typically alcohol, often in a social or persuasive setting. The Drink sb down meaning includes both the literal sense of drinking and the implied act of encouraging or pressuring someone to drink more than they might want. Understanding this phrase can help learners recognize its use in informal conversations, stories, or even humorous contexts. It reflects social dynamics where drinking plays a role, such as parties or gatherings.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Drink sb down (drink somebody down)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To make someone drink a lot, often alcoholic drinks

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Drink sb down” is a transitive phrasal verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person who is drinking). It is separable, so you can say:

• Drink somebody down
• Drink down somebody

However, the first form (“drink somebody down”) is more common. The verb “drink” is followed by the person (sb = somebody), then “down” as the particle.

How to Use “Drink sb down”?

You use “drink sb down” when talking about making or encouraging someone to drink a lot, especially alcohol. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, such as friendly teasing or peer pressure. This phrase often appears in informal conversations and storytelling.

Examples

Imagine you are at a party, and your friend keeps encouraging you to keep drinking. You might hear:

• “They tried to drink me down all night, but I stopped after two glasses.”
• “He was so persuasive, he drank his friends down without much effort.”
• “The host wanted to drink everyone down to celebrate the big win.”
• “Don’t let them drink you down if you don’t want to.”

These examples show how the phrase fits naturally in conversations about drinking and social situations.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “drink sb down” with other phrases or misuse the object. For example:

• Incorrect: “I drank down my friend.”
• Correct: “They drank me down.”
• Incorrect: “She drinked him down.”
• Correct: “She drank him down.”

Remember, the verb “drink” changes to “drank” in past tense, and the object (the person) must come before “down.”

Differences / Synonyms

There are similar phrases like “drink up,” which means to finish a drink, or “drink someone under the table,” which means to drink more alcohol than someone else. Compared to these, “drink sb down” focuses on causing someone to drink a lot rather than competing or finishing a drink.

For example, “drink someone under the table” implies a contest, while “drink sb down” implies persuasion or pressure.

Common Collocations

Here are common objects and phrases used with “drink sb down”:

• Drink sb down a glass/bottle of wine/beer/whiskey: specifying the drink
• Drink sb down quickly: emphasizing speed
• Try to drink sb down: attempt to persuade
• Drink sb down at a party: social setting

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of drink sb down:

• Drink Sth Up
• Drink To Sb
• Drink In Sth
• Drink To Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “drink sb down”:

Anna: They really tried to drink me down last night.

Ben: Did you manage to stop?

Anna: Yes, I said no after two glasses. It was enough.

Ben: Smart! Sometimes people push too hard.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrasal verb:

• At the party, they tried to _________ me _________, but I refused.
• He _________ his friends _________ during the celebration.

FAQs

• Q: Is “drink sb down” formal or informal?

  A: It is informal and mostly used in casual conversations.
• Q: Can “drink sb down” be used for non-alcoholic drinks?

  A: Usually, it refers to alcoholic drinks but can sometimes be used for any drink.

• Q: What is the past tense of “drink sb down”?

  A: The past tense is “drank sb down.”

• Q: Can I say “drink me down” to ask someone to drink with me?

  A: No, it means the opposite — making you drink a lot, not inviting you.
• Q: Is it polite to use this phrase?

  A: It depends on context; it can be teasing or pressuring, so use carefully.