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Fall off the Wagon

What Does "Fall off the Wagon" Mean?

homeidiomsFall off the Wagon
"Fall off the wagon" is an English idiom. It means "to return to an addiction or bad habit, especially drinking alcohol after a period of abstention."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "fall off the wagon" used in a sentence:
  • He had been sober for years, but then he fell off the wagon.
  • It's not uncommon for people to fall off the wagon multiple times before maintaining long-term sobriety.
  • After the news of his father's death, he fell off the wagon.
meaning for fall off the wagon

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Fall off the Wagon" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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