social lubricant en · NOUN
Etymology
By a metaphor in which facilitating human social interaction is portrayed as lubricating machinery (e.g., oiling the gears, greasing the wheels); in this regard, compare also lubrication payment.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A food, beverage, drug or activity that helps people feel more comfortable in social occasions.
Beer's qualities as a “social lubricant” should play an important role in the debate on the harms of alcohol, according to the boss of Heineken.
2025 October 25, Madeleine Speed, “Heineken stirs debate on health with toast to beer’s role as a social lubricant”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| social lubricants | Number=Plur | lexicographic |