1 B2 idiomatic informal
To drink an alcoholic drink, especially a shot, very quickly and forcefully.
"He slammed back two shots of tequila before joining the dance floor."
separable
slam back
B2 informal separable transitive
To drink an alcoholic shot quickly and forcefully; or to forcefully return something to a previous position.
In plain English
To quickly drink a shot of alcohol in one go, slamming the glass down after.
What does "slam back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To return something or someone forcefully to a previous position.
"The wave slammed the dinghy back against the rocks."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To slam (hit hard) something back — implying a forceful return motion.
Actually means
To quickly drink a shot of alcohol in one go, slamming the glass down after.
Usage tip
Primarily used in the context of drinking shots of alcohol. More common in American informal English. The image is of slamming the empty glass back down on the bar after drinking.
Words that pair with "slam back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shot tequila vodka whisky drink quickly
How to conjugate "slam back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slam back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slams back
he/she/it
Past simple
slamed back
yesterday
Past participle
slamed back
have + pp
-ing form
slaming back
continuous
Hear "slam back" in the wild
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