(Australia) An alcohol test; the measurement of the blood alcohol level.
(Australia) An alcohol test; the measurement of the blood alcohol level.
Alcotest means: An alcohol test; the measurement of the blood alcohol level.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
alcotest means: An alcohol test; the measurement of the blood alcohol level.. Register: informal, Australian English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Alcotest means: An alcohol test; the measurement of the blood alcohol level.. It is mainly Australian English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "alcotest".
Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.
See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with A.
A casual self-assessment or group check-in on how drunk everyone is — like a vibe audit before deciding whether to drive, keep drinking, or call it a night. Borrowed from the literal breathalyzer context.
Someone who tests others' sobriety — either literally with a device or figuratively, the person at the party who judges how wasted everyone is and decides who's too far gone. Can be used affectionately or as a mild diss for the buzzkill.
The vibe of someone who's clearly had too many — slurring, unsteady, broadcasting obvious intoxication in a way that would definitely fail a breathalyzer. Used to clock someone's drunken state before they've even admitted it.
A period when sobriety checkpoints or breathalyzer enforcement is especially heavy — like holidays, festivals, or long weekends when police DUI enforcement spikes. Used to warn friends or complain about crackdowns.
No comments yet — say something.