liquor

USAGE SUMMARY

"liquor" is a perfectly valid and useful word in written English.
It can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it is a type of alcoholic beverage, while as a verb, it means “to extract by boiling or fermentation” or “to provide with liquor.” Example sentence: The partygoers were starting to get rowdy, so the host decided to cut them off and stop providing them with liquor.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

On the outside it looks like a small, old-world liquor store, but forget yourself, walk right behind the counter, take a seat in the front room or the hallway (complete with discrete exit to a side street), knock back some drinks and chat with owner Dilip and the locals.

The Guardian - Travel

Simmer for 8 minutes more until there a couple of spoons of liquor left.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Its base is dashi, a stock made from kelp and dried bonito flakes that is fundamental to Japanese cuisine, here increased in value by the addition of clam liquor and the faint smokiness of an accompanying bit of grilled lobster.

The New York Times - Food

The last thing we need now is to find a few more liquor stores to loot".

The Guardian

It gives the liquor a mildly minty taste and is hugely popular – by early evening, the whizz of blenders churning out pisco sours is competing with the clatter of guests.

The Guardian - Travel

Malt liquor marshmallow, well liquor bourbon peanut butter, and cheap white wine sherbet".

The Guardian - Film

He orders lunch carefully - no cheese, no pork, no wine (he hasn't touched alcohol for years: "I can't get with the taste of liquor") - and lights a cigarette.

The Guardian - Music

Hundreds of different beers line the back room walls like wallpaper and are available to imbibe on the spot or to purchase individually for take out; which is a much rarer thing than you'd think, as Pennsylvania liquor laws are mostly relics imposed in the 1930s by temperance heads, still sore about the repeal.

The Guardian - Travel

Traditionally, one might expect God-fearing conservatives to be warning youth about the dangers of alcohol consumption, rather than plying them with free liquor, but these are desperate times.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

(Johnson) ★ Brooklyn Museum: 'Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui' (through Aug. 4) Born in Ghana and long a resident of Nigeria, where he maintains a productive studio, El Anatsui has for the past decade been creating spectacularly large, fabriclike sculpture from countless numbers of liquor-bottle caps linked together with twists of copper.

The New York Times - Arts

Marijuana may have a beneficial side-effect: if pot-smoking displaces liquor-drinking, it might actually be good for public health.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the term "liquor" carefully in formal writing if you are referring to the alcoholic beverage. In this case, using "alcoholic beverage" can be an alternative

Common error

Avoid using "liquor" excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise terms like "distilled spirits" or "alcoholic beverages" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "liquor" is as a noun, referring to an alcoholic beverage, particularly a distilled one. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, highlighting its versatility. It can also function as a verb, though this is less common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "liquor" is a versatile term mainly used as a noun to refer to alcoholic beverages. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While generally grammatically correct, it is important to consider more precise and formal alternatives like "alcoholic beverages" or "distilled spirits" in academic or professional settings. As Ludwig AI suggests, "liquor" can also function as a verb, meaning to supply alcohol, even though this is less common. The term is useful for identifying alcoholic beverages in discussions about consumption or regulation, but consider the specific context and audience to select the most suitable term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alcoholic drinks

General term for beverages containing alcohol.

alcoholic beverages

Broader term encompassing various types of alcoholic drinks.

distilled spirits

Refers specifically to alcoholic beverages that have undergone distillation.

strong drinks

Emphasizes the high alcohol content.

hard alcohol

Informal term for strong alcoholic drinks.

intoxicating drinks

Highlights the effect of the beverage.

potable spirits

More formal or technical term for alcoholic beverages.

booze

Slang term for alcohol.

hooch

Informal term, often referring to illegally made alcohol.

alcoholic concoctions

Suggests a mixture of alcoholic ingredients.

FAQs

How is "liquor" used in a sentence?

"Liquor" can be used as a noun to refer to alcoholic beverages or as a verb meaning to supply with alcohol. For example: "The store sells a variety of liquor" or "They were liquored up before the show."

What are some alternatives to the word "liquor"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "alcoholic beverages", "distilled spirits", "hard alcohol", or simply "alcohol".

Is it correct to use "liquor" to refer to any alcoholic drink?

While "liquor" often refers to distilled alcoholic beverages, it can broadly encompass any alcoholic drink. However, for clarity, it's best to use more specific terms like "beer" or "wine" when appropriate.

What is the difference between "liquor" and "alcohol"?

"Alcohol" is a general term for ethanol, while "liquor" refers to a specific category of alcoholic beverages, typically those that are distilled and have a higher alcohol content. You can consume "liquor" because it contains "alcohol".