under the influence
Meaning
To be impaired by alcohol or drugs to an extent that affects one's physical or mental faculties.
Origin
The phrase "under the influence" stems from the Latin "influentia," meaning "a flowing in." Originally, it described the ethereal power from celestial bodies, which ancient and medieval thinkers held affected human destiny and character—one was simply "under the influence" of a planet. By the 17th century, its meaning broadened to encompass any invisible moral or mental sway a person or thing exerted. Its modern, specific application to impairment by alcohol or drugs solidified in the early 20th century, driven by the rise of automobiles and the subsequent need for legal language to address intoxicated driving, thereby transforming a cosmic concept into a precise legal and social descriptor.
Examples
- The police officer arrested the driver after noticing he was clearly under the influence.
- She regretted making important decisions while under the influence of too much champagne.