"Dry" in relation to alcohol is an interesting word with contradictory meanings. On the one hand, in comparing the alchohol content in various bevarages, the contrast is between alcohol (non-wet) and water (wet), so a more alcoholic and less watery wine is drier.
On the other hand, historically in the U.S., "drink" (presumably a metonymy for "strong drink") was regarded as wet, in contrast to non-wet avoidance of "drink." Thus a county that allows no sale of alcohol is "dry."
"Dry" in relation to alcohol is an interesting word with contradictory meanings. On the one hand, in comparing the alchohol content in various bevarages, the contrast is between alcohol (non-wet) and water (wet), so a more alcoholic and less watery wine is drier.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, historically in the U.S., "drink" (presumably a metonymy for "strong drink") was regarded as wet, in contrast to non-wet avoidance of "drink." Thus a county that allows no sale of alcohol is "dry."
i could not be more confused.
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