Under the influence meaning in English
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Definition
to be under the influence (of alcohol, of drugs): to be feeling the effects of, to be intoxicated, inebriated on (alcohol, drugs)
The policeman could immediately see he was under the influence of alcohol as he was talking to a tree.
Examples
- "The police received an anonymous tip that the popular young wizard was flying under the influence, when a concerned citizen called to report a dead pigeon on the street."
- "Police : Mr. Warbuckle, you're under arrest for driving under the influence."
Exercise 1
"You're under arrest for driving under the influence."
The policeman thinks that Warbuckle is .
The policeman thinks that Warbuckle is .
"You're under arrest for driving under the influence."
The policeman thinks that Warbuckle is driving while intoxicated.
The policeman thinks that Warbuckle is driving while intoxicated.
driving while intoxicated: This is correct. To "(drive) under the influence" is to drive when intoxicated or "drunk". Note that "under the influence" can also describe being in a state where substances other than drink is consumed (such as drugs). There's no question that Warbuckle is not in a good state to be driving, here.
driving while sober: This is incorrect. Actually, he thinks just the opposite. To be "sober" means "not drunk at all", which definitely doesn't describe Warbuckle at this moment.
driving while using a cell phone: This is incorrect. Although Warbuckle is clearly unable to pay attention to where he's going, that's not because he's talking on his cell phone; it's because he's drunk.
driving in the state: This is incorrect. Although we might say that Warbuckle is "in a fine state" (which is an ironic way of saying that he's actually in a very poor state), it is not possible to say that he is "driving in the state".
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