what's your poison
English
WOTD – 13 May 2024
Etymology
From poison (“(informal) intoxicating drink; liquor”),[1] from the fact that such beverages are toxic to the human body.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌwɒts jə ˈpɔɪz(ə)n/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌ(h)wʌts jəɹ ˈpɔɪz(ə)n/, /ˌ(h)wɑts-/
Audio (General American): (file) - Rhymes: -ɔɪzən
- Hyphenation: what’s your poi‧son
Phrase
- (idiomatic, humorous, informal, dated) Used to someone what alcoholic beverage they would like to drink: what drink would you like to have?
- Synonyms: what's yours, what's your pleasure
- 1998 October 29, Black Isle Studios, Fallout 2, v1.02d, spoken by Bartender, Interplay Productions, Windows, level/area: Desperado:
- What's yer poison, darlin'?
Alternative forms
- choose your poison, name your poison, pick your poison
Translations
used to ask someone what alcoholic beverage they would like to drink
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References
- ^ “what’s your poison?” under “poison, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, March 2024.
Further reading
- “what’s your poison?, idiom”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.