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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:

They warn't put into Adam's ale for nothin', that's a fact.'

From Nature and Human Nature by Thomas Chandler Haliburton

"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

“Sling along the Adam’s ale, old girl,” said Jim at this point in her reverie.

From The Stronger Influence by F.E. Mills Young

“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

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

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