chaser

IPA/ˈtʃeɪsə(r)/
KK[tʃˈesɚ]IPA/ˈtʃeɪsər/

chaser — noun

  • chasersingular
  • chasersplural

1. a small glass of spirits, like whisky or vodka, that you drink right after finis

1.nounC1
Definition

a small glass of spirits, like whisky or vodka, that you drink right after finishing a milder drink such as beer.

Example

Tariq ordered a pint of lager with a whisky chaser at the pub.

collocation: a [drink] with a [spirit] chaser

After two beers, Beatriz asked the bartender for a vodka chaser.

Common collocations
  • whisky chaser
  • vodka chaser
  • brandy chaser
  • with a chaser
Synonyms
  • shot

    a single measure of spirits, but 'shot' doesn't imply following another drink

Grammar Patterns

a chaser of [drink]

Usage Note

Frequently appears as 'X with a Y chaser' where Y is a stronger spirit and X is the weaker drink. Distinguish from sense 2, where the chaser is the milder drink that follows a shot.

Common Mistakes

I had a wine chaser after my beer.
I had a whisky chaser after my beer.
a chaser in this sense is usually spirits, not wine.

2. a soft drink, beer, or other mild drink that you sip right after swallowing a sm

2.nounC1
Definition

a soft drink, beer, or other mild drink that you sip right after swallowing a small glass of strong spirits, to soften the burn.

Example

Sade swallowed the tequila shot and grabbed a lime soda chaser.

collocation: [soft drink] chaser after a shot

Aarav drank the vodka in one go and chased it with a ginger ale chaser.

Common collocations
  • soda chaser
  • juice chaser
  • beer chaser
  • water chaser

Grammar Patterns

a chaser of [drink]

Usage Note

Subject of the chaser is usually a non-alcoholic or mild drink (soda, juice, beer, water). Distinguish from sense 1, where the chaser is the stronger drink and the first drink is weak.

Common Mistakes

She took a vodka shot with a whisky chaser to soften it.
She took a vodka shot with a soda chaser to soften it.
if the goal is to soften the burn, the chaser must be milder than the shot.

3. someone who runs after a person or animal to catch them, or who travels to find

3.nounB2
Definition

someone who runs after a person or animal to catch them, or who travels to find and watch something dramatic like a storm.

Example

The thief was fast, but the chasers caught up with him near the river.

Asher works as a storm chaser and drives toward tornadoes every spring.

collocation: storm chaser

Common collocations
  • storm chaser
  • ambulance chaser
  • celebrity chaser
  • skirt chaser
Synonyms
  • pursuer

    more formal; emphasises legal or official pursuit

  • follower

    weaker — doesn't imply trying to catch the target

Grammar Patterns

a chaser of [target/phenomenon]

Usage Note

Often forms compounds like 'storm chaser', 'ambulance chaser', 'skirt chaser', 'celebrity chaser' where the noun before 'chaser' names what is being followed.

4. a person, team, or company that is working hard to win something or reach an amb

4.nounC1
Definition

a person, team, or company that is working hard to win something or reach an ambitious target, often while trailing a leader.

Example

Manchester City sits second, ten points behind the leader and the closest title chaser.

collocation: title chaser / record chaser

Beatriz is a record chaser and trains six hours a day to break the world mark.

Common collocations
  • title chaser
  • record chaser
  • medal chaser
Synonyms
  • contender

    neutral on whether the contender is behind a leader

  • challenger

    implies directly competing against the current holder

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a chaser of [goal]

[N] chaser

Usage Note

Subject is usually a competitor or rival trailing a leader; the target is named by a preceding noun (title, record, medal, patent). Distinguish from sense 3, which is about following a person physically.

5. a racehorse bred and trained for steeplechases — long-distance races in which th

5.nounC2
Definition

a racehorse bred and trained for steeplechases — long-distance races in which the animal must leap rows of hedges, fences and water ditches at speed.

Example

Lakan owns three chasers that race at Cheltenham every spring.

collocation: own / train / ride a chaser

The young chaser cleared every fence on the course and won by six lengths.

Common collocations
  • train a chaser
  • ride a chaser
  • novice chaser
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

a chaser

Usage Note

Mainly British English; used in horse-racing journalism and by trainers. Refers strictly to jump racing, not flat racing.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All four words describe someone going after a person or thing, but they differ in tone and intent. 'Chaser' is the most active and physical — it suggests running or driving fast to catch up, often in the moment (a storm chaser, a thief chaser). 'Pursuer' is more formal and often legal or official; a pursuer can be a police officer or a creditor who is determined and patient. 'Follower' is the mildest — a follower trails behind without necessarily trying to catch up or interfere; you can follow someone on foot or on social media. 'Tracker' focuses on finding and following signs (footprints, signals) rather than running directly behind the target. For example: the thief had three chasers on his heels and one tracker reading his footprints in the mud; reporters later described the lead detective as a patient pursuer rather than a noisy chaser.

chaser ↗pursuer ↗follower ↗tracker ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • whisky chaser
  • vodka chaser
  • storm chaser
  • title chaser
  • record chaser

Phrases

  • a beer with a whisky chaser

Prepositions

  • with a chaser
  • after a chaser

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishModern English

From the verb 'chase' (to run after) plus the agent suffix '-er', giving 'one that chases'. The drink sense developed in 19th-century English bars, where a smaller drink 'chased' the first one down the throat. The horse-racing sense is short for 'steeplechaser', a horse for races over fences. All modern senses trace back to the single idea of one thing following another.