Where Did The Term "on The Wagon...

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Where did the term "on the wagon...

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Email Address Question Where did the term “on the wagon” originate to mean abstaining from alcohol?

Answer

This phrase first came into use at the turn of this century, when someone who gave up drinking alcohol was said to be “on the water cart”, meaning that he was using the services of horse-drawn water vendors instead of imbibing at the local saloon. By 1904, it had become “on the water wagon”, then shortened to “on the wagon” with the same intended meaning.

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