Adam's ale
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of Adam's ale
First recorded in 1635–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I suppose the stingy one at home only drinks Adam's ale?"
From Mark Hurdlestone Or, The Two Brothers by Susanna Moodie
"There, my boy, there's Adam's ale for you," said he, and into the glass of hot water he popped a peppermint lozenge.
From Lords of the North by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut
A cooling plunge at the break of day, A paddle, a row, or sail, With always a fish for a mid-day dish, And plenty of Adam's ale.
From The Ontario Readers Third Book by Ontario. Ministry of Education
Soda-water was the sole product of the lemonade factories; but the quality of Adam's ale tasted worse and was more suggestive of typhoid in that form than in any other.
From The Siege of Kimberley by T. Phelan
They had a special objection to carrying fresh water, and nearly always bolted when they discovered it was "Adam's ale" that was swishing about on the outside of their hump.
From "Over There" with the Australians by R. Hugh (Reginald Hugh) Knyvett
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
