Have you seen the phrase 'on the wagon' appear somewhere and would like to know more about what the saying means? Someone described as 'on the wagon' is implied to be sober and abstaining from something, specifically alcohol. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of the common phrase.
Meaning
The phrase 'on the wagon' is a type of figurative English expression that is usually used to mean that someone is sober (or that someone no longer gets drunk or intoxicated).
Someone who is 'on the wagon' is implied to have stopped drinking, and someone that has possibly once been used to drinking often (or have been an alcoholic).
The phrase can be used as a direct reference to someone, but it can also be used as a reference to a third-party when speaking about them.
The phrase 'on the wagon' can be made as a statement, said as a response, or sometimes phrased as a question that implies the same.
Sometimes the phrase 'not on the wagon' can be used to deny the statement when it has been said, or to make its own statement that employs the expression. The direct opposite of the phrase is to say that someone is 'off the wagon' or instead that they are drunk.
The phrase is mostly used as a serious reference, though 'on the wagon' is more often said in a colloquial sense.
Example Usage
“I wonder if the manager of the store managed to get back on the wagon this year. He didn't look too great the year before last.”
“If you want your life to go any better, then you should make sure you live your life on the wagon rather than mostly off it.”
“I think my mother was off the wagon instead of on it. That must be why I hate the sound of loud noises and carnivals so much.”
“Since the guy at the back of the superstore cleaned himself up somewhat and got on the wagon, he's really been doing a lot better at life.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase 'on the wagon' is said to come from the earlier, longer sentence 'on the water cart'. The phrase 'on the water-cart' had the same meaning as 'on the wagon' and apparently originated somewhere in the late 19th century.
The phrase would later become shortened to 'on the wagon' rather than 'on the cart', with the meaning remaining the same as the phrase was carried through to modern times.
It is impossible to know whether 'on the wagon' or 'off the wagon' originated first: it is likely that these two phrases came to be together, and simply alternated in their use.
The phrase can today be seen in American English, UK English and even further away including Australia. The phrase is common as a saying in almost all forms of English, though might not translate well as a direct phrase into other languages.
Phrases Similar to On the Wagon
- Off their head
Phrases Opposite to On the Wagon
- Sober as a judge
What is the Correct Saying?
- On the wagon
Ways People May Say On the Wagon Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'off the wagon' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the meaning of the saying.
Someone can confuse the phrases 'on the wagon' and 'off the wagon', or the phrase can be translated into languages that have no direct equivalent for the saying.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase On the Wagon
There are several ways to use the phrase 'on the wagon' in the right way.
The phrase is usually said to (or about) someone to imply that they have become sober after an implied period of drinking or serious alcoholism.