under the influence

Idioms  

1. Impaired functioning owing to alcohol consumption, as in He was accused of driving under the influence. This expression, from legal jargon, is short for under the influence of intoxicating liquor and implies that one is not completely drunk. Since it is nearly always applied to drivers suspected or so accused, it has given rise to the police acronym DUI, for “driving under the influence.” [Second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

under the influence

In such a defence, New York law requires lawyers to show a defendant "acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse".

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

“No evidence indicating that the defendant was driving under the influence was presented to our office.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

"Petroleum forms in these rocks over millions of years at great depths under the influence of heat and pressure," said co-author Manuel Reinhardt from the University of Göttingen.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 2026

Geren had come under the influence of some midgrade officers, notably Col.

From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026

I’m clearly not the only one under the influence either—now that “business” has been concluded, everyone connected with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth is letting off steam.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

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