chain-smoke: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “chain-smoke” mean?
To smoke cigarettes continuously, lighting each new one from the previous.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To smoke cigarettes continuously, lighting each new one from the previous.
To engage in an activity excessively and without pause, by analogy to continuous smoking.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The hyphenation is standard in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally negative in both, implying addiction and lack of self-control.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English, reflecting historically higher smoking rates, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “chain-smoke” in a Sentence
He chain-smoked.She chain-smoked her way through the crisis.They were chain-smoking in the garden.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chain-smoke” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- During the meeting, he would chain-smoke nervously.
- She used to chain-smoke roll-ups.
American English
- He chain-smoked his way through the entire pack.
- Under pressure, she would just chain-smoke at her desk.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in discussions of workplace health policies or stress.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, or public health research on addiction.
Everyday
Common in descriptive narratives about stress or bad habits.
Technical
Used in medical contexts describing nicotine dependence behaviour.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chain-smoke”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chain-smoke”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chain-smoke”
- Using as a noun ('He is a chain-smoke') instead of a verb/adjective ('He chain-smokes', 'He is a chain-smoker').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily for cigarettes, but it can be used humorously or metaphorically (e.g., 'He chain-smoked cigars').
Yes, the agent noun is 'chain-smoker'. The activity can be described as 'chain-smoking' (gerund).
No, it is informal and descriptive. More formal equivalents are 'smoke heavily' or 'smoke incessantly'.
No, it almost always has a negative connotation, associated with addiction, anxiety, or poor health.
To smoke cigarettes continuously, lighting each new one from the previous.
Chain-smoke: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪn sməʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪn smoʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Smoke like a chimney (similar imagery)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a chain made of lit cigarettes, each link lighting the next.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUITY IS A CHAIN (one event linked directly to the next without break).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'chain-smoke' primarily imply?