drink-driving
C1Formal, Legal, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
The criminal offence of driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol beyond the legal limit.
The act or practice of operating any motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, including the associated social attitudes and legal frameworks.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always hyphenated. Functions primarily as a noun or noun modifier (attributive adjective). While referring to an illegal action, the term itself is neutral and descriptive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'drink-driving' is almost exclusively British English (and common in other Commonwealth nations like Australia). The standard American English equivalent is 'drunk driving' or the legal term 'DUI' (Driving Under the Influence).
Connotations
The British term focuses descriptively on the *act* of drinking and then driving. The American 'drunk driving' emphasizes the *state* of being drunk while driving, which can sound slightly more judgmental.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK media, legal, and public safety contexts. Extremely low frequency in US contexts, where it would be marked as a Britishism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] was arrested for drink-driving.The [authority] is targeting drink-driving.There is a [zero-tolerance] policy on drink-driving.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Over the limit”
- “One for the road (ironic/warning context)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in corporate policies: 'The company has a strict zero-tolerance policy on drink-driving for all employees using company vehicles.'
Academic
Used in sociological, legal, or public health studies on road safety and behaviour.
Everyday
Common in news reports, public service announcements, and casual warnings: 'He lost his licence for drink-driving.'
Technical
Used in legal documents and police reports to specify the charge.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Informal/BrE: "He was done for drink-driving." (Here 'drink-driving' is a noun object of the preposition)
American English
- Not used as a verb in AmE. Use 'drive drunk' or 'get a DUI'. Example: "He was arrested for driving drunk."
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- He received a drink-driving conviction.
- The drink-driving laws were tightened.
American English
- Not used. Use 'drunk-driving' or 'DUI'. Example: "He faced drunk-driving charges."
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Drink-driving is very dangerous.
- The police stop drivers for drink-driving.
- He was fined for drink-driving last year.
- There are strong penalties for drink-driving in the UK.
- The new advert highlights the devastating consequences of drink-driving.
- Despite numerous campaigns, drink-driving remains a significant cause of road accidents.
- The magistrate imposed a custodial sentence, citing the defendant's previous drink-driving conviction as an aggravating factor.
- Sociological studies correlate tougher drink-driving legislation with a measurable decline in traffic fatalities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the hyphen as a car seat belt connecting 'drink' and 'driving' – you need both parts together for the illegal activity.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRIME IS A CONTAMINANT / PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT (e.g., 'crackdown on', 'campaign against', 'stamp out drink-driving').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'пить-вождение'. The Russian equivalent is 'вождение в состоянии алкогольного опьянения' or the abbreviation 'ВН' (drunk driving).
- Do not confuse with 'drinking and driving', which is a less formal, descriptive phrase.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as two separate words 'drink driving' (acceptable but less standard) or as one word 'drinkdriving'.
- Using it as a verb: 'He was drink-driving' (acceptable in informal UK English) vs. the more standard 'He was caught drink-driving' (as a modifier).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is the direct American English equivalent of the British 'drink-driving'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, no. It is a noun or a noun modifier (adjective). In very informal British English, you might hear "He was drink-driving," but the standard phrasing uses it attributively: "He was arrested for drink-driving."
'Drink-driving' specifically refers to alcohol. 'DUI' (or its UK counterpart 'DUID') is a broader legal term that can also include impairment by drugs or other substances.
It's a historical linguistic difference. British English focuses on the act (drink and then drive), while American English focuses on the state (drive while drunk). Both are fixed compounds in their respective dialects.
The hyphenated form 'drink-driving' is standard, especially in formal writing. 'Drink driving' (open compound) is commonly seen but considered less standard by style guides. The one-word form 'drinkdriving' is incorrect.