rickey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “rickey” mean?
A mixed alcoholic drink, typically made with spirits (traditionally gin or bourbon), lime juice, and carbonated water over ice.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mixed alcoholic drink, typically made with spirits (traditionally gin or bourbon), lime juice, and carbonated water over ice.
A term that can also historically refer to a type of soda fountain drink, and as a surname. It rarely appears as a personal name.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word originates in American English and is primarily used there. In British English, it is a very low-frequency borrowing, mostly understood in cocktail or historical contexts.
Connotations
American: Historical, classic cocktail, pre-Prohibition era. British: An exotic or American import term.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general UK usage. In the US, it is recognized but low-frequency, mostly in bars, cocktail menus, or historical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “rickey” in a Sentence
a [spirit type] rickeyto drink a rickeyto make/mix a rickeyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rickey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, possibly in the context of running a bar or restaurant.
Academic
Rare, found in historical or cultural studies about food and drink.
Everyday
Very rare, except among cocktail enthusiasts or in certain US regions.
Technical
Specific to bartending/mixology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “rickey”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “rickey”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rickey”
- Misspelling as 'ricky' or 'riccie'.
- Using it as a generic term for any cocktail.
- Pronouncing it with a long 'i' (/ˈraɪ.ki/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word specific to the context of cocktails and historical drinks.
Yes, a 'lime rickey' is a common non-alcoholic version made with just lime juice and carbonated water.
A gin fizz typically contains sugar and is shaken, while a gin rickey contains no sugar and is built directly in the glass.
It is extremely rare and would be considered an Americanism. It might be understood in specialist cocktail bars.
A mixed alcoholic drink, typically made with spirits (traditionally gin or bourbon), lime juice, and carbonated water over ice.
Rickey is usually formal, historical, culinary in register.
Rickey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪk.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪk.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'RICK-EY' as a drink that makes you go 'ICK!' if you don't like lime, or remember it as a classic drink for a 'Rick' (a common American name).
Conceptual Metaphor
LONG DRINK IS A VEHICLE FOR REFRESHMENT (it carries refreshment to the drinker).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes a 'rickey' from many other cocktails?