John Barleycorn

American  

noun

1. a personification of barley as used in malt liquor, of malt liquor itself, or of any intoxicating liquor.

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John Barleycorn British  

noun

1. humorous the personification of alcohol, esp of malt spirits

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Etymology

Origin of John Barleycorn

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

Later, about 300 people gathered for a fundraiser at John Barleycorn in River North, where the price of admission was a symbolic $20.16 per person.

From Chicago Tribune • Jun. 5, 2014

Chicago bars using facial detection software Need to know how crowded John Barleycorn is right now?

From Chicago Tribune • Nov. 16, 2011

John Barleycorn, meanwhile, is tortured, killed and resuscitated, but in this parable of the agricultural cycle, it seems to me he is something of a straw man.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2010

Wayne B. Wheeler, general counsel of the Anti-Saloon League, archfoe of John Barleycorn was scornful, said: "Morris's opinion was only his lone opinion, in a hopeless minority."

From Time Magazine Archive

But come November Hangman wakes up again, sort of like John Barleycorn in reverse.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell