drug



drug of choice

1. An illicit substance one is addicted to or tends to prefer. I dabbled with a few different recreational drugs in college, but marijuana was my drug of choice.
2. The favored pharmaceutical treatment for a given medical condition or ailment. Lithium has long been the drug of choice for many physicians to treat depression and bipolar disorder.
3. By extension, any habit, activity, or vice that one is particularly fond of or dependent upon. A lot of people resort to drugs or alcohol to cope with their problems, but exercise has always been my drug of choice. Coffee became my drug of choice after working as a barista for three years during college.
See also: choice, drug, of

drugstore cowboy

1. A young man who loiters in public places, such as on street corners or outside of drugstores, especially in the attempt to impress or woo young women. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. I hate going through this area, there's always a few drugstore cowboys cat-calling me when I pass by.
2. A person who dresses and acts like a cowboy but who has never worked as one and has none of a cowboy's skills or experience. Originally a reference to extras in Hollywood western films (who would remain in costume off set), it later extended to anyone who wears cowboy clothing purely for the purposes of style or affectation. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. The senator accused his challenger of being a drugstore cowboy—a city slicker who had no idea what it meant to live or work in the rural countryside.
3. One who sells, steals, and/or gets high on prescription or over-the-counter medications. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Police apprehended a drugstore cowboy who held up a local pharmacy and made off with loads of prescription medication.
See also: cowboy

drug deal

The exchange of money for drugs. I think I just watched a drug deal take place on our corner!
See also: deal, drug

drug on the market

Something that is not in great demand because it is abundantly available. Mobile phones are a drug on the market these days, which is why they're so affordable.
See also: drug, market, on

sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll

A phrase used to indicate a wild, hedonistic lifestyle. Being a touring muscian is not as exciting as it seems—it's definitely not all sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.
See also: and, rock, roll

do drugs

 and do dope
to take illegal drugs; to use illegal drugs habitually. Sam doesn't do drugs, and he doesn't drink. Richard started doing dope when he was very young.
See also: drug

a drug on the market

 and a glut on the market
something that is on the market in great abundance. Right now, small computers are a drug on the market. Twenty years ago, small transistor radios were a glut on the market.
See also: drug, market, on

smart drugs

  (British & Australian)
drugs which make you more intelligent or make you think more clearly I have my exams in two weeks - I could use some smart drugs.
See also: drug, smart

drug on the market

A commodity whose supply greatly exceeds the demand for it. For example, Now that asbestos is considered dangerous, asbestos tile is a drug on the market. The use of the noun drug in the sense of "something overabundant" (as opposed to a medicine or narcotic) dates from the mid-1600s, but the first record of the full expression, put as drug in the market, dates only from the 1830s.
See also: drug, market, on

do drugs

and do dope
tv. to take drugs; to use drugs habitually. (Drugs and now general.) Is she still doing dope? Rocko doesn’t do drugs, and he doesn’t drink.
See also: drug

do the drug thing

tv. to be involved with drugs; to take drugs. Man, you gotta stop doing the drug thing.
See also: drug, thing

drug

1. in. to use drugs. (Drugs.) There is no way that she will stop drugging by herself.
2. and drug out mod. down; depressed. We are all drug out after that meeting.

drug out

verb
See drug
See also: drug, out

drug lord

n. a drug dealer high up in the distribution chain. The drug lords like Mr. Big seem never to get arrested.
See also: drug, lord

drugstore cowboy

n. a male who hangs around drugstores and other public places trying to impress women. You don’t see the old drugstore cowboys around this part of town anymore.
See also: cowboy

head drug

n. a drug that affects the mind rather than the body; a psychoactive drug. It’s these head drugs that get the kids into so much trouble.
See also: drug, head

drugstore cowboy

A derisive phrase for a fashionably dressed man who loitered around public places trying to pick up women. The phrase, which may have originated with movie cowboys who wore their costumes when they broke for lunch, brings to mind the fashion plate's inability to ride anything more challenging than a drugstore counter stool.
See also: cowboy

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Owen (2)-Irish
ThuẦN-Vietnamese
Torill-Norwegian
Brigid-Irish, Irish Mythology
Ignaasikh-NAH:SDutch
Callistuskə-LIS-təs (English)Late Roman