[Ads-l] hit the bottle; ht the booze

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED: 1891 (booze), 1942 (bottle)

I

1878 _Eureka [Nev.] Daily Sentinel_ (Sept. 15) 4: After hitting the bottle
again, we gave him a snatch from "Jordan's Stormy Banks."

1881 _Daily New Mexican_ (Santa Fe) (Dec. 27) 4: Various arrests were
made...for drunkenness. In most instances the boys were quiet, but they hit
the bottle a little too often.

1887 _Trenton Times_ (Nov. 17) 5: Don't hit the bottle my son and don't let
the bottle hit you.

Etc., etc.

II

1881 _S.F. Examiner_ (Jan.3)  2: Let's - hic - hit the booze - hic - again.

1884 _Fort Wayne Daily News_ (Aug. 14) 1:They were obliged to hit the booze
at Ed Monock's bar.

1887 _Boston Globe_ (July 4) 48: Louis Say, the Haverhill short-stop, has
been suspended. "Hitting the booze," his old failing.

Etc.
-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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