1 C1 idiomatic informal
To drink alcohol to the point of intoxication; to have a heavy drinking session.
"After the championship win, the whole team went out and really tied one on."
inseparable
tie one on
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To drink alcohol excessively; to get drunk.
In plain English
To drink too much alcohol and get very drunk.
What does "tie one on" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Primarily American English, with a humorous or self-deprecating tone. The origin is uncertain but possibly refers to tying on an apron (drinking heavily at a bar). Used more by older speakers; younger speakers more likely say 'get hammered', 'get wasted', etc. Often used in past tense: 'He really tied one on last night.'
Words that pair with "tie one on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
night bar celebration party weekend occasion
How to conjugate "tie one on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tie one on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ties one on
he/she/it
Past simple
tied one on
yesterday
Past participle
tied one on
have + pp
-ing form
tiing one on
continuous
Hear "tie one on" in the wild
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Other ways to say "tie one on"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
drink heavily get drunk get hammered get plastered go on a bender overindulge
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