designated driver

[ des-ig-ney-tid drahy-ver ]

noun

1. a person who abstains from alcoholic beverages at a gathering in order to be fit to drive companions home safely. : DD

designated driver

noun

1. a person who volunteers not to drink alcohol on a social occasion, so that he or she can safely drive other people who have been drinking

Word History and Origins

Origin of designated driver¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Just remember, if you’re going to smoke up along the way, pick a designated driver.

From Los Angeles Times

Others want to retain the ability to be responsive or responsible for later activities, like serving as a designated driver, operating heavy machinery or being “on-call” for work.

From Salon

Just remember, if you’re going to smoke up along the way, pick a designated driver.

From Los Angeles Times

Which is why it must have made it all the more painful that while others partied the night away, Maryland Republican Senate candidate Larry Hogan was stuck playing designated driver.

From Slate

One evening last July, during my summer break from a worthwhile but costly stint in graduate school, I did the most “I moved back in with my parents” thing I’ve done in the last year and change of living at home: I offered to be a designated driver for my parents' high school reunion.

From Salon