guzzle

IPA/ˈɡʌzl/
KK[ɡˈʌzəl]IPA/ˈɡʌzl/

guzzle — verb

  • guzzlepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • guzzleshe / she / it
  • guzzledpast simple
  • guzzling-ing form

1. to drink a liquid very quickly and in large amounts, as if you cannot get enough

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to drink a liquid very quickly and in large amounts, as if you cannot get enough because you are very thirsty; in British English, also used about eating food the same greedy way

Example

After the long run, Wei guzzled two bottles of water without stopping to breathe.

guzzle + liquid + quantity after physical activity

The children guzzled their fizzy drinks at the birthday party and then asked for more.

guzzle + possessive + drink (informal context)

Common collocations
  • guzzle beer
  • guzzle water
  • guzzle soda
  • guzzle soup
  • guzzle food
Synonyms
  • gulp

    similar speed but less greedy or excessive; 'gulp' is a single large swallow, while 'guzzle' suggests continued drinking

  • swig

    informal, usually refers to taking a large mouthful of an alcoholic drink; 'swig' can be a single action

  • down

    informal; means to drink something in one go, often quickly, but without the same greedy/eager connotation

  • wolf down

    British informal; used mainly for eating rather than drinking, emphasizing speed and greed

Antonyms
  • sip

    drink in very small amounts, slowly and carefully

  • nibble

    eat in small, cautious amounts — the opposite of greedy eating

Grammar Patterns

guzzle + noun phrase (drink/food)

Usage Note

This sense carries a strong tone of eagerness or lack of restraint. In British English it extends to eating food greedily ('guzzle down a burger'), though that use is somewhat less common than the drinking one.

Common Mistakes

She guzzled her coffee slowly while reading a book.
She sipped her coffee slowly while reading a book.
Guzzling always means drinking quickly and eagerly, never slowly.
He guzzled the expensive wine, savouring every drop.
He sipped the expensive wine, savouring every drop.
Guzzle implies greedy speed, not careful enjoyment.

2. if a vehicle or engine guzzles fuel, it uses a very large amount of it in a shor

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

if a vehicle or engine guzzles fuel, it uses a very large amount of it in a short time, usually because it is not efficient or is designed for high power

Example

Hassan's old car guzzles so much petrol that he has to fill up twice a week.

guzzle + petrol + so…that result clause

This truck guzzles so much diesel that the company spent over NT$80,000 on fuel last month.

guzzle + diesel + cost consequence

Common collocations
  • guzzle petrol
  • guzzle diesel
  • guzzle gas
  • guzzle fuel
Synonyms
  • consume

    neutral and formal; 'consume' simply states usage without the critical tone

  • eat up

    informal and metaphorical ('this car eats up petrol'), emphasising wastefulness

  • drink

    informal metaphorical use ('the engine drinks oil'), similar to 'guzzle' but less strong

Antonyms
  • save

    use less fuel; opposite of wasting

  • conserve

    use fuel carefully to avoid waste

Grammar Patterns

guzzle + fuel/petrol/diesel/gas

Usage Note

Commonly used in informal complaints or critical reviews of a vehicle's fuel economy. The subject is almost always a vehicle or engine — never a person — even though the same verb is used for drinking.

Common Mistakes

This bicycle guzzles no fuel.
This bicycle uses no fuel.
'Guzzle' is only used about vehicles with engines that consume fuel, not about non-motorised vehicles.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four alternatives describe fast drinking or eating, but 'guzzle' is the only one that strongly conveys greedy eagerness or excess — you guzzle because you cannot control your thirst or appetite. 'Gulp' focuses on the swallowing action: you can gulp nervously without being greedy ('He gulped before answering'). 'Swig' is typically a single large mouthful taken from a bottle, often of alcohol ('She took a swig of whisky'), and lacks the sense of continuous guzzling. 'Down' means finishing a drink in one go ('He downed his pint in seconds'), which is fast but not necessarily greedy — it could be a race or a dare. 'Wolf down' (British) applies mainly to food ('She wolfed down her sandwich') and is closer to 'guzzle' in tone but is exclusive to eating, not drinking. For a person drinking glass after glass of water after a run, 'guzzle' is the best fit because it captures both the speed and the sense of desperate need.

gulp ↗swig ↗down ↗wolf down ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

Old FrenchEnglish

The word 'guzzle' first appeared in English around the 1500s, though its exact origin is uncertain. Many language historians trace it to the Old French word 'gosier', meaning 'throat' — the idea being that a person who guzzles sends the drink straight down the throat without pausing. The fuel-consumption meaning emerged in the early 1900s, when automobiles became common and people needed a vivid way to complain about cars that 'drink' petrol too fast.