on the rocks

1. Served over ice only, as in He always drinks whiskey on the rocks . The “rocks” here are the ice cubes. [Mid-1900s]

2. Destitute, bankrupt, as in Can I borrow next month's rent? I'm on the rocks . This usage, from the late 1800s, is heard more often in Britain than America.

3. Ruined, spoiled, as in Six months after the wedding, their marriage was on the rocks . This expression, alluding to a ship running aground on rocks and breaking apart, has been used figuratively for other disasters since the late 1800s.

Example Sentences

He is, however, very hungry and quickly orders sparkling water, a Macallan 12-year-old Scotch on the rocks, and some chips with guacamole.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, the Dunkalatte is being marketed as "the brand's first-ever coffee milk latte," while the DoorDash caption for the product characterizes it as "creamy coffee milk combined with bold espresso for a sippable go-to embodying a milkshake on the rocks. There's creamy coffee...and there's this."

From Salon

“Their marriage was on the rocks, and Mike was having all kinds of issues,” Levine said.

From Seattle Times

The couple’s relationship had been on the rocks and this trip was an attempt to repair their relationship, family members said.

From Los Angeles Times

They are indigenous to the Southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India, where they can be found on the rocks, in the trees and even on the sides of buildings.

From Salon

Related Words

• bankrupt
• exhausted
• impoverished
• indigent
• insolvent
• needy
• penniless
• poor
• poverty-stricken
• strapped