Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

on the rocks

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.38 in modern English

Syllables: on the rocks
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

1

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Poured over ice, usually in reference to alcoholic drinks.

prep_phrase

In a bad state; experiencing difficulties or at risk of failing.

Example Sentences

"I'll have a whisky on the rocks."
"I knew my business was on the rocks, so I started considering going into voluntary bankruptcy."
"Joe and Tammy's relationship is on the rocks again."
"Everything of interest happens in the first ten minutes. A male model called Carl (Harris Dickinson) senses after a calamitous audition that his career is already on the rocks, all washed up."

Etymology

From the allusion of a ship running aground against rocks and breaking apart. The poured over ice sense is due to ice's resemblance to rocks.

Phrases

on-the-rocks glass rocks glass schooner on the rocks

Frequently Paired Words

schooner on the rocks neat straight up

Questions

What does on the rocks mean?: Poured over ice, usually in reference to alcoholic drinks.
Where does on the rocks come from?: From the allusion of a ship running aground against rocks and breaking apart. The poured over ice sense is due to ice's resemblance to rocks.

How to pronounce on the rocks

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “on the rocks”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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