on the turps

English

Etymology

From on (“regularly taking”) + the + slang turps (“any alcoholic drink”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

on the turps

1. (UK, Australia, slang) Drinking alcohol to excess.
   • 1992, Di Morrissey, The Last Rose of Summer, 2011, Read How You Want, EasyRead Large Edition, page 201,

     ‘Been on the turps last night, I′d say,’ whispered Tony to Odette.

     ‘He′ll start to steady down and focus after three cups of my tea,’ laughed Odette.

   • 2010, Brett Atkinson, Sarah Bennett, Scott Kennedy, New Zealand′s South Island, Lonely Planet, page 107:

     You might spot the odd parliamentarian on the turps at the Backbencher, a pub opposite the Beehive where rubbery puppets of NZ pollies are mounted trophy-style on the walls (David Lange is a beauty).

   • 1998, Harry Bowling, When the Pedlar Called, 2010, Headline Publishing, eBook, unnumbered page,

     Frank an′ ′is ole woman don′t get on, yer see, an′ ′e′s gone on the turps ter drown ′is sorrows.

   • 2009, James Castrission, Crossing the Ditch, HarperCollins, unnumbered page:

     Out on the water, Jonesy and I also talked about the similarity of the bond we felt with a fellow adventurer after, say, a challenging bushwalk, and the camaraderie of a huge night on the turps with your mates.

Synonyms

• on the grog
• on the piss
• on the sauce

Anagrams

• pothunters