liquor
liquor — noun
1. a strong alcoholic drink made by distilling a fermented grain or fruit mash — su
a strong alcoholic drink made by distilling a fermented grain or fruit mash — such as whisky, vodka, gin, or rum — typically drunk in small servings, often mixed with other beverages or served over ice.
Tariro bought whisky, rum, and other liquor for the party at the new store.
liquor as category alongside specific whisky and rum
The bar served beer, wine, and hard liquor at separate counters.
collocation: hard liquor = distilled spirits
Many guests preferred wine over liquor because it was less strong.
Naoko keeps gin, whisky, and rum in a locked cabinet at home to prevent accidents.
Lena, the convenience store clerk, refused to sell liquor to a teenager without ID.
文法句型
liquor (uncountable)
用法筆記
Frequently paired with modifiers specifying type: 'hard liquor' for distilled spirits as distinct from beer or wine. In US English, 'liquor' almost always refers to distilled alcohol; in UK English, 'spirits' is more common for this sense.
常見錯誤
2. the flavourful liquid left in a pan or pot after cooking meat, vegetables, or le
the flavourful liquid left in a pan or pot after cooking meat, vegetables, or legumes — often used as a base for soups, stews, or sauces rather than being thrown away.
Rachel saved the liquor from the ham to make a bean soup the next day.
liquor from [food] for reuse
The pot liquor from the collard greens was rich and slightly salty.
pot liquor = cooking liquid from greens
Élise poured the cooking liquor through a strainer before adding it to the gravy.
I always save the liquor from boiled black beans to use as a simple soup base.
- broth
usually refers to a prepared soup base rather than leftover cooking liquid
- stock
a liquid made by simmering bones or vegetables, typically intentional rather than leftover
- pot liquor
the exact Southern US term for this sense; also written 'potlikker'
文法句型
the liquor from [food]
用法筆記
Often called 'pot liquor' or 'potlikker' in Southern US cooking. The term distinguishes the seasoned cooking liquid from plain water or stock. Usually uncountable, but a specific instance can be referred to as 'the liquor'.
常見錯誤
liquor — verb
1. to treat rawhide during the tanning process by working fatty substances such as
to treat rawhide during the tanning process by working fatty substances such as animal oils or tallow into it, so that the finished leather becomes soft and water-resistant.
Using a soft brush, the tanner liquored the cowhide with fish oil and tallow to soften it.
active: tanner liquors leather with [substance] to [purpose]
Each piece of leather is liquored twice before dyeing to make it flexible and waterproof.
passive: leather is liquored before [next step] to [purpose]
Christopher watched the craftsman liquor the dried hide with a soft cloth.
Ezra learned to liquor saddles by hand from an old master in Chihuahua.
文法句型
liquor [leather] with [oil/grease]
用法筆記
This is a specialised term used almost exclusively in the leather tanning and saddlery industries. Outside of technical contexts, 'oil' or 'condition' are preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to give someone enough strong alcohol that they become drunk, often with the aim
to give someone enough strong alcohol that they become drunk, often with the aim of lowering their resistance or making them less cautious.
The old film shows a villain trying to liquor the hero before robbing him.
trying to liquor [someone] before [action]
Emre joked that his friends had liquored him up before the karaoke contest.
phrasal: liquor [someone] up
Jiro's friends tried to liquor him up before his speech so he would be less nervous.
Nila's uncles tried to liquor the new manager at the retirement dinner.
- intoxicate
more formal and neutral in tone
- ply with drink
emphasises repeated offering of alcohol
- get someone drunk
the everyday equivalent, much more common
- sober up
to become or make someone sober again
文法句型
liquor [someone] up
用法筆記
Dialectal or dated; more common in the phrasal form 'liquor up'. In modern English, 'ply with alcohol' or simply 'get drunk' are far more frequent. Often carries a negative connotation of manipulation.
常見錯誤
3. to drink large amounts of strong alcohol, especially habitually or until you are
to drink large amounts of strong alcohol, especially habitually or until you are drunk.
The cowboys would liquor up every night after a long day on the trail.
phrasal: liquor up (intransitive)
Manuela's grandfather used to liquor heavily after retiring from the railway.
adverb modifier: liquor heavily
Every payday, the cowboys in the old Western novel liquor up at the saloon.
The sailor spent his shore leave liquoring in bars along the harbour.
- drink heavily
the standard modern equivalent, neutral in register
- binge drink
more specific: drinking a lot in a short period
- tipple
dated or humorous; suggests steady but moderate drinking
- abstain
to choose not to drink alcohol at all
文法句型
liquor up (no object)
用法筆記
Almost exclusively found in historical or literary contexts describing habitual heavy drinking. In modern English, 'drink heavily', 'binge drink', or 'get drunk' are the standard alternatives. The phrasal form 'liquor up' is more common than the bare verb for this sense.