What Does “Drink to sb” Mean?
“Drink to sb” means to raise a glass and drink in someone’s honor, usually during a celebration or special moment.
Introduction
The phrase “Drink to sb” is commonly used in English when people want to show respect, celebrate, or wish good luck to someone by raising their glasses and drinking. This action is a social gesture often seen at parties, weddings, or informal gatherings. The “Drink to sb meaning” involves both the act of drinking and the intention behind it — honoring or congratulating a person. Understanding this phrase helps learners communicate better in social settings and appreciate English-speaking customs.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Drink to sb (drink to somebody)
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To raise a glass and drink in honor of someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Drink to sb” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot separate “drink” and “to” with other words.
Common pattern:
- Drink to + somebody (object)
- Example: We drank to the bride and groom.
How to Use “Drink to sb”?
This phrase is used during celebrations or formal toasts to show respect or good wishes. You usually say it when raising a glass before drinking alcohol or sometimes non-alcoholic drinks.
It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but is most common in social gatherings.
Examples
Imagine you are at a wedding toast. You might say, “Let’s drink to the happy couple!” Here are more examples of “Drink to sb in a sentence”:
- We drank to our friend’s success last night.
- Everyone drank to the health of the new CEO.
- At the party, they drank to their teacher’s retirement.
- She suggested we drink to their safe journey.
- They drank to the team’s victory after the game.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the phrase or use incorrect prepositions. For example:
- Incorrect: We drank for the bride.
- Correct: We drank to the bride.
- Incorrect: He drank with the guests to celebrate.
- Correct: He drank to the guests to celebrate.
Remember, the correct preposition after “drink” in this phrase is always “to.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Drink to sb” is similar to “toast sb,” but there is a slight difference. “Toast” usually refers to the speech or words said while raising a glass, while “drink to sb” focuses on the action of drinking in someone’s honor.
Other related expressions include:
- Toast sb: To raise a glass and say good words about someone.
- Raise a glass to sb: Similar to “drink to sb,” meaning to honor someone by lifting a drink.
Use “drink to sb” when emphasizing the act of drinking in honor of someone.
Common Collocations
When using “drink to sb,” certain nouns commonly follow or are associated with the phrase:
- Health: Drink to someone’s health (meaning good wishes for their well-being).
- Success: Drink to someone’s success (celebrating achievement).
- Victory: Drink to a team’s victory.
- Future: Drink to a bright future.
- Happiness: Drink to someone’s happiness or special occasion.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of drink to sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “drink to sb”:
Anna: Let’s drink to John’s promotion!
Mark: Great idea! To John!
Everyone: Cheers! We drink to John’s success.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
At the party, we all __________ to the bride and groom.
- a) drank to
- b) drank for
- c) drank on
Answer: a) drank to
FAQs
- Q: Can I use “drink to sb” with non-alcoholic drinks?
A: Yes, it can be used with any drink, alcoholic or not. - Q: Is “drink to sb” formal or informal?
A: It is suitable for both formal and informal occasions. - Q: What is the difference between “drink to sb” and “toast sb”?
A: “Toast sb” focuses on saying words of honor, while “drink to sb” emphasizes the act of drinking in their honor. - Q: Can I say “drink for sb” instead?
A: No, the correct phrase is “drink to sb.” - Q: Is “drink to sb” used only in celebrations?
A: Mostly yes, but it can also be used in any situation to show respect or good wishes.
