Reader\'s Digest - 04.2020

(John Hannent) #1

Tippling Tonight? Tee-Totally Not
A teetotaler—aka someone who doesn’t drink alcohol—is
not necessarily a tea drinker, as the name suggests. The
word likely came from the phrase “tee-total abstinence,” with
the first syllable used simply to emphasize the t sound, similar
to how you might say, “You’re in trouble, with a capital T!”



  1. speakeasy (c) illegal
    bar. Speakeasies, also
    known as “blind pigs” or
    “gin joints,” popped up
    in cities across America in
    the 1920s.

  2. swill (c) drink freely.
    Mimi plans to spend her
    spring break sunbathing
    on the beach and swilling
    margaritas.

  3. aperitif (b) predinner
    cocktail. After a round
    of aperitifs, the couple
    ordered filet mignon and
    a bottle of cabernet.

  4. blotto (b) intoxicated.
    “Remember, you’re going
    to college to learn, not
    to get blotto with your
    friends,” warned Dad.

  5. distill (a) purify a liquid.
    Most rum is distilled from
    molasses.


Vocabulary Ratings
9 & below:rotgut
10–12: vintage
13–15: classic


  1. wassail (a) hot spiced
    beverage. A wassail is just
    the thing to warm you up
    on a chilly evening.

  2. bootleg (b) produced
    unlawfully. According to
    family lore, Grandpa sold
    bootleg whiskey from the
    back of his general store.

  3. katzenjammer (c)
    hangover. I had a whop-
    ping katzenjammer the
    day after I turned 21!

  4. snifter (a) small goblet.
    Hassan collects vintage
    snifters and highball
    glasses.

  5. Nebuchadnezzar
    (a) enormous wine bottle.
    “Should I bid on that
    Nebuchadnezzar of
    champagne at the
    museum gala?” Carly
    wondered.

  6. aqua vitae (c) strong
    liquor. Lakshmi has sworn
    off aqua vitae until she fin-
    ishes her doctoral thesis.
    12. sommelier (a)
    wine expert. A restaurant’s
    sommelier can help you
    choose the perfect wine
    to complement your
    meal.
    13. rathskeller (b)
    basement tavern. The inn
    offers a cozy rathskeller
    just below the formal
    dining room.
    14. repeal (a) put an
    end to. Congress ratified
    the 21st Amendment in
    1933, which repealed
    Prohibition.

  7. dram (b) small drink.
    For dessert, I’ll have
    the cherry cheesecake
    and a dram of amaretto,
    please.


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122 april 2020


Reader’s Digest


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