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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

on the rocks en · ADP

Pronunciation

Etymology

From the allusion of a ship running aground against rocks and breaking apart. The poured over ice sense is due to ice's resemblance to rocks.

Meanings

  1. Poured over ice, usually in reference to alcoholic drinks.
    • I'll have a whisky on the rocks.
  2. (figuratively) In a bad state; experiencing difficulties or at risk of failing.
    • Everything of interest happens in the first ten minutes. A male model called Carl (Harris Dickinson) senses after a calamitous audition that his career is already on the rocks, all washed up. 2022 May 21, Peter Bradshaw, “Triangle of Sadness review – heavy-handed satire on the super-rich loses its shape”, in The Guardian:
    • Joe and Tammy's relationship is on the rocks again.
    • I knew my business was on the rocks, so I started considering going into voluntary bankruptcy.

Coordinates

straight up · neat

Deriveds

on-the-rocks glass · rocks glass

Relateds

schooner on the rocks

Translations (12)

de mit Eis (poured over ice) · fi kivillä (in a bad state) · it con ghiaccio (poured over ice) · ru со льдом (poured over ice) · el με πάγο (poured over ice) · fr avec des glaçons (poured over ice) · ja ロック (poured over ice) · el με παγάκια (poured over ice) · fi jäillä (poured over ice) · hu jéggel (poured over ice) · bg с лед (poured over ice) · fi karilla (in a bad state)