drink like a fish
Meaning
To drink a lot of alcohol; to drink heavily and often.
Origin
Recorded from the 18th–19th centuries; it uses the image of fish constantly taking in water through their mouths/gills, metaphorically applied to someone who consumes alcohol in large quantities.
Notes
A casual, hyperbolic phrase mainly about alcohol. It can sound judgmental or teasing; avoid in formal or sensitive contexts (e.g., addiction).
Examples
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He can drink like a fish on weekends, but he never seems hungover.
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After the breakup, she started drinking like a fish and missed work twice.
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Everyone joked that my uncle drank like a fish at family gatherings.
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If you keep drinking like a fish, your health is going to suffer.
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I didn’t realize he drank like a fish until I saw the bar tab.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed simile pattern: “drink like a fish.” Verb can inflect (drinks/drank/drunk). Often used without an object; if added, it’s typically alcohol (e.g., “drank beer like a fish”).
Synonyms
- drink heavily
- drink a lot
- be a heavy drinker
- hit the bottle
Antonyms
- drink moderately
- be teetotal
- abstain from alcohol