Fall Off the Wagon
Meaning
To relapse into an old bad habit, particularly alcoholism, after a period of successful abstinence.
Origin
The phrase "on the wagon" or "on the water wagon" emerged during the 19th-century temperance movement in the United States. Temperance societies encouraged people to abstain from alcohol, and those who joined them were said to be "on the water wagon," signifying their commitment to drinking only water, often literally riding in parades on wagons carrying water barrels. "Falling off the wagon" thus vividly depicted a relapse into drinking, symbolizing the abandonment of that commitment and a return to old habits, specifically the consumption of alcohol.
Examples
- After three months sober, he sadly fell off the wagon during the holiday party.
- It's tough to stay committed to a diet, and I almost fell off the wagon when I saw the dessert menu.