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Under the Influence

What Does "Under the Influence" Mean?

homeidiomsUnder the Influence
"Under the influence" is an English idiom. It means "impaired or affected, usually by drugs or alcohol."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "under the influence" used in a sentence:
  • He was arrested for driving under the influence.
  • She admitted to being under the influence when the incident happened.
  • It's dangerous to make decisions when under the influence.
meaning for under the influence

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Under the Influence" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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