it was spiked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was spiked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a drink that has been secretly mixed with alcohol or drugs, often without the knowledge of the person consuming it. Example: "At the party, I realized my punch had been spiked when I started feeling dizzy and lightheaded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

But analysis revealed that it was spiked with bleach to lighten its color, and contained high levels of methanol, which in large doses can cause blindness.

The New York Times

If it didn't, it was spiked.

The Guardian - Opinion

Recently, a Save staffer reported that a colleague had written a blog on abuse of children in the tea industry – but it was spiked for fear it would upset Liptons, another corporate partner.

Independent

Subsequently and when the culture had reached the late exponential state it was spiked with a concentrated xylose solution to establish an initial xylose concentration in the range of 5 40 g L−1.

AMB Express

1000 mL of water sample which it was spiked with 1 mL of 0.080 ppm surrogate solution and added 5 mL methanol was passed through a 6 mL capacity C18 cartridge.

Chemistry Central Journal

So, as I raise this juice box in your honor, I will be wishing that it was spiked with vodka.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The agency said it was spiking the rule because it believed it violated attorney-client privilege "by requiring confidential information to be part of disclosures," an argument that business groups had made to the Labor Department and in court.

HuffPost

Does it matter what flavor the Kool-Aid is if it's spiked?

The New York Times

But the flies that land on the orange jelly discover that it is spiked with bitter-tasting quinine.

The New York Times - Science

The melody lands on unexpected notes, and the cluster chords that support it are spiked with piercing dissonance.

The New York Times

The rich soup is thick with bits of turtle meat and smoky andouille sausage, and it's spiked with sherry and lemon.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was spiked" to describe a drink, be clear about what it was spiked with. This adds specificity and avoids ambiguity. For example, "It was spiked with vodka".

Common error

Avoid using "it was spiked" when you mean something was simply enhanced. Spiking implies a secret or unwanted addition, not just an improvement. For example, don't say "The performance was spiked with extra energy" if you just mean it was very energetic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was spiked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that 'it' (the subject) was the recipient of an action (being spiked). Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples where something is secretly added to a drink or a piece of information is suppressed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was spiked" commonly signifies that something has been secretly altered, generally with negative implications. As Ludwig AI indicates, this can refer to a drink being tampered with, or information being suppressed. Grammatically correct and versatile, the phrase sees usage across news, scientific articles, and general discussions. While the phrase maintains a fairly neutral register, specific situations, like news reporting a drink being "spiked", carry negative connotations. Alternatives like "it was laced" or "it was suppressed" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was spiked with

Specifies what the drink or substance was mixed with.

it was laced

Focuses on the addition of a substance, often drugs, to something.

it was secretly drugged

Highlights the secretive nature of adding drugs to something.

it was tampered with

Suggests interference or alteration, often with malicious intent.

it was doctored

Implies that something was altered or manipulated, especially to deceive.

it was adulterated

Indicates that something was made impure by adding a foreign substance.

something was added to it

A more generic way of expressing that something was mixed into it.

it was suppressed

Refers to the act of preventing information or a story from being published or known.

it was censored

Implies the removal of objectionable parts from something.

it was kept quiet

Refers to the act of keeping something secret or preventing it from becoming public knowledge.

FAQs

What does "it was spiked" mean?

The phrase "it was spiked" generally means that something, often a drink, has had a substance (usually alcohol or drugs) added to it without the knowledge or consent of the person who will consume it. It can also metaphorically mean that a story or piece of information was suppressed or rejected.

What can I say instead of "it was spiked"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "it was laced" (if referring to drugs), "it was tampered with", or "it was suppressed" (if referring to a story or information).

Is it always negative when something "it was spiked"?

Yes, the phrase "it was spiked" typically carries a negative connotation. When referring to drinks or substances, it implies a secret and potentially harmful addition. When referring to information, it suggests suppression or censorship.

How to use "it was spiked" in a sentence?

You can use "it was spiked" in sentences like: "Her drink was spiked with something that made her ill." Or, "The newspaper article was spiked because the editor didn't agree with its message."