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on (or off) the water wagon

Variant of wagon

wagon definition

wagon (wag′ən)

noun

  1. any of various types of four-wheeled vehicles; specif.,
    1. a horse-drawn vehicle for hauling heavy loads
    2. a small cart pulled or steered by means of a pole handle and used by children in play
  2. ☆
    1. patrol wagon
    2. station wagon
  3. Brit. a railroad freight car

Etymology: Du wagen < PGmc *wagna-: see wain

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to carry or transport (goods) by wagon; move or go in a wagon
wagon Idioms

fix someone's wagon

☆
Slang to hurt someone in some way so as to be revenged for a wrong, insult, etc.

hitch one's wagon to a star

to aspire to lofty goals; aim high

on (or off) the wagon

☆
Slang no longer (or once again) drinking alcoholic liquors
also on (or off) the water wagon on (or off) the water wagon

the Wagon

Charles's Wain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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