Idiom
one for the road
Meanings
a final alcoholic drink before leaving a bar, pub, or gathering
a final drink before starting a journey home (often said jokingly, but sometimes criticized as unsafe)
Definition
A final alcoholic drink taken before leaving a place, especially a pub or party.
"One for the road" is an idiom meaning one last alcoholic drink before you go home or move on. It is often said when people are about to leave a pub, bar, or social event. In British English it is common and can sound friendly or informal, but it can also imply drinking just before travelling.
Examples
- We were about to leave when he suggested one for the road.
- She refused one for the road because she was driving.
- Let’s have one for the road and then call it a night.
- They stopped at the pub for one for the road after dinner.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "one for the road" to mean a snack for a journey, but it normally refers to an alcoholic drink.
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