Greg B Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 The term 'On the Wagon' is often used to refer to someone who doesnot drink. Does anyone know where the term came from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kai Posted March 28, 2004 Share Posted March 28, 2004 I've heard it's a shortened version of 'on the water wagon', in reference to water wagons used in the US for spraying down dirt roads and as water supplies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 A quick search in google turned up a few options. Source 1: The most common attributed origin is the american water wagon , as described by Kai. Source 2: Another option is from the American Salvation Army, that would collect and bring alchoholics to the shelter each morning by picking them up and putting them "on the wagon" they used. They had some men get off or fall off to continue or begin drinking again. To "fall off the wagon" was to return to drinking or "go on a bender" after a period of sobriety. Several regional Salvation Army sites claim "on the wagon" originated with them, including www.tsagoldenstate.org. Source 3: The official BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) site attributes the phrase to a practice dating from 1547 to a tavern at Bow, where condemned prisoners went inside for a last drink, while the executioner stayed "on the wagon" outside. The article on the BBC's site is called "The Tyburn Tree", and states that this origin is only "one theory" for where the phrase came from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyb1525228598 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 "On The Wagon" is also linked to "last shout". The wagon driver with convicted prisoners would pull into an Inn, so the prisoners could have their last drinks. They were not allowed in the Inn, so the driver would "shout" out for the drinks. When the prisoners had their last drinks, they were ordered "on the wagon". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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