What does “alky | alkie | alchy” mean?
The phrase "alky" or "alkie" or "alchy" means 'an alcoholic.' When someone calls another person an "alky" or "alkie" or "alchy", they are referring to them as someone who is addicted to alcohol and regularly drinks excessively.
How is the expression used in real life?
Example
He's an alky. He can't go a day without drinking.
Example
She's such an alky. Her alcohol addiction is ruining her life.
Example
I can't trust him anymore. He's turned into an alky.
What context can I use each expression in?
- 1Describing someone with a drinking problem
He's an alky. He can't go a day without drinking.
She's such an alky. Her alcohol addiction is ruining her life.
- 2Expressing distrust or disappointment in someone's behavior
I can't trust him anymore. He's turned into an alky.
His friends are worried about him. They think he's becoming an alky.
- 3Discussing the negative effects of alcohol addiction
The documentary highlighted the struggles of recovering alkies.
She lost her job because of her alky behavior.
Good things to know:
What is the origin of the phrase?
The term "alky" originated as a slang abbreviation of the word 'alcoholic'. It is commonly used in informal contexts and is often associated with negative connotations.
Can the phrase be used on its own?
The term "alky" is typically used within a sentence to describe someone who has a drinking problem. It is not commonly used on its own.
Is the phrase offensive?
The term "alky", "alkie", or "alchy" is considered offensive. It is a derogatory slang term used to refer to someone who is an alcoholic.
Audience for the phrase
The term "alky" is generally used by people who are familiar with informal slang and may be more commonly used among older generations. However, it is important to note that using this term can be offensive and disrespectful.
Is the phrase specific to an accent or country?
The term "alky" is not specific to any particular accent or region. It can be used in English-speaking regions where informal slang is prevalent.