lolly water: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (regional/informal)Informal, colloquial, humorous, potentially derogatory.
Quick answer
What does “lolly water” mean?
A soft drink, especially a fizzy, non-alcoholic beverage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft drink, especially a fizzy, non-alcoholic beverage.
Used (often humorously or dismissively) to refer to a sweet, alcoholic beverage that is considered insubstantial or not a 'proper' drink, such as a cocktail or a premixed spirit-based drink.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is essentially absent from both standard British and American English. It is specific to Australian and New Zealand English. British speakers might use 'pop' or 'fizz' for soft drinks, and 'alcopop' for sweet alcoholic drinks. Americans would use 'soda', 'pop', or 'cocktail'.
Connotations
N/A for direct UK/US usage. In its native context, connotations include childishness, lack of sophistication, or not being a 'serious' drink (especially for alcohol).
Frequency
Not used in the UK or US. Frequency is low even in Australia/NZ, confined to informal speech.
Grammar
How to Use “lolly water” in a Sentence
[Subject] is drinking/ordered lolly water.Call that a drink? It's just lolly water![Noun phrase] (derogatory label)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation, often among friends, to mock a drink choice.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lolly water”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lolly water”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lolly water”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it in the UK or US expecting to be understood.
- Applying it to all soft drinks without the humorous/dismissive intent.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a low-frequency colloquialism specific to Australia and New Zealand.
Yes, often humorously or dismissively, to refer to sweet, mixed alcoholic drinks considered insubstantial.
It can be, depending on context. It's often meant in friendly teasing but can be derogatory, implying the drink (or drinker) is childish or unsophisticated.
Terms like 'kiddie cocktail' or the brand-specific 'alcopop' capture a similar idea, but the cultural nuance of 'lolly water' is unique.
A soft drink, especially a fizzy, non-alcoholic beverage.
Lolly water is usually informal, colloquial, humorous, potentially derogatory. in register.
Lolly water: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒli ˌwɔːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɑːli ˌwɔːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not] be caught dead drinking lolly water”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'lolly' (lollipop) dissolved in water - a overly sweet, simple drink not for adults.
Conceptual Metaphor
SWEET DRINK IS CHILD'S FOOD (The drink is metaphorically equivalent to candy, implying immaturity).
Practice
Quiz
In which country would you most likely hear the term 'lolly water' used naturally?