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!”
- speakeasy (c) illegal
bar. Speakeasies, also
known as “blind pigs” or
“gin joints,” popped up
in cities across America in
the 1920s. - swill (c) drink freely.
Mimi plans to spend her
spring break sunbathing
on the beach and swilling
margaritas. - aperitif (b) predinner
cocktail. After a round
of aperitifs, the couple
ordered filet mignon and
a bottle of cabernet. - blotto (b) intoxicated.
“Remember, you’re going
to college to learn, not
to get blotto with your
friends,” warned Dad. - distill (a) purify a liquid.
Most rum is distilled from
molasses.
Vocabulary Ratings
9 & below:rotgut
10–12: vintage
13–15: classic- wassail (a) hot spiced
beverage. A wassail is just
the thing to warm you up
on a chilly evening. - bootleg (b) produced
unlawfully. According to
family lore, Grandpa sold
bootleg whiskey from the
back of his general store. - katzenjammer (c)
hangover. I had a whop-
ping katzenjammer the
day after I turned 21! - snifter (a) small goblet.
Hassan collects vintage
snifters and highball
glasses. - Nebuchadnezzar
(a) enormous wine bottle.
“Should I bid on that
Nebuchadnezzar of
champagne at the
museum gala?” Carly
wondered. - 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1933, which repealed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. - dram (b) small drink.
For dessert, I’ll have
the cherry cheesecake
and a dram of amaretto,
please.
Word Power
ANSWERS
122 april 2020
Reader’s Digest
mariyanam/shutterstock