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Synonyms

Adam's ale

American  

noun

Facetious.
  1. water.


Adam's ale British  

noun

  1. old-fashioned water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

See Examples For:

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

“That second cup of Adam’s ale was better than the first,” he said appreciatively, “and this ’ere’s the best banana I ever nibbled.

From Trapped by Malays A Tale of Bayonet and Kris by Steven Spurrier

Nothing like plain flour food and Adam's ale!

From Mortmain by Arthur Cheny Train

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

"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

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