under the influence
46
5.8
- idiom
- NSFW
:
bajo los efectos
- Last night, she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
- under the influence of alcohol
- under the influence of drugs
- driving under the influence
lady arrested him when he was driving under the influence of some drugs.
- lady arrested him when he was driving under the influence of some drugs.
- Is it fair to say that you play football under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
- We would never commit a serious crime whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
- I've given a tattoo under the influence, but I don't think I have done one myself.
- It's a woman under the influence of some pretty powerful drugs who's everything is about drugs.
- There are two groups and one group experiences sexual arousal went under the influence of cannabis, THC specifically.
- And there have been people sitting in that chair who while they were sitting in that chair, I knew were under the influence various different times.
- Plus putting a cannula in yourself when you're under the influence of alcohol, You've got to be pretty stupid to do that.
Examples
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We would never commit a serious crime whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
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The number of arrests for driving under the influence has declined precipitously in the 1990s.
Academic text (1998) -
lady arrested him when he was driving under the influence of some drugs.
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Nick had quit drinking six years ago after being arrested for driving while under the influence.
Fiction book (1999) -
I understand you were cited recently for driving under the influence.
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You will still be arrested, of course, if you drive under the influence of marijuana.
Blog text (4) -
Authorities believe she may have been under the influence of crack cocaine.
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Case one: Last week, your friend Lyra was pulled over and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Academic text (2018) -
Running back Michael Turner was arrested for driving under the influence after the Denver Broncos game.
Blog text (7) -
Over 35 percent of college students reported driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (Presley et al., 1994).
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
∞
1.6
Having too much alcohol makes your body and mind not work normally
44
4.2
Unable to control your actions because of alcohol or drugs
18
4.8
A little drunk after drinking a small amount of alcohol
8
6.5
To be very drunk after drinking too much alcohol
7
8.8
High from drugs, often cannabis, and unable to think or act clearly
4
9.9
Someone who is high after using drugs, often cannabis
4
8.9
Too much alcohol makes a person very unsteady and unable to think clearly
3
7.9
So affected by alcohol that you are not aware of what you do or where you are
2
9.9
Feeling very excited or distracted after taking cocaine
1
9.9
Under the influence of cocaine
1
9.1
Very tired, asleep, or feeling the effect of alcohol
1
9.9
A person who is very drunk and cannot find their way home
1
8.4
Very drunk from drinking alcohol
1
4.4
Having taken something that makes you sleepy, confused, or less aware
Very drunk after drinking a lot of alcohol
Very drunk after drinking too much
Very drunk or affected by drugs and unable to think clearly
Affected by drugs that make a person sleepy or confused
Feeling very sleepy and not fully aware because of strong pain medicine
Feeling very drunk and acting foolishly
Drunk after drinking too much alcohol
To say someone is very drunk or high on drugs in an informal rude way
Very drunk after drinking a lot of alcohol
Antonyms
How Impaired
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal parts 'under' (in a state of) + 'influence' (being affected) transparently yield the general idea of being affected or controlled by something, which a B1 learner who knows the words can infer. However, the conventionalized, primarily legal/medical sense referring specifically to impairment by alcohol or drugs (as in 'driving under the influence') is a collocational specialization that is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase under the influence may come from the image of being under a strong influence, as if a drink or person has power over you. That's why it means being 'affected' or 'controlled' by alcohol or drugs and unable to act normally.