beer

Everyday

1. An alcoholic drink for adults, made from grain (usually barley) and hops, fizzy and often golden or brown; it is not for children. tree →
2. A glass, can or bottle of this drink: «He ordered a beer.» tree →
3. In some drink names that have no alcohol, like «root beer» or «ginger beer», which children can drink. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and adult-life lessons beer appears at pubs, barbecues and sports matches; grown-ups may drink it, and the law says children must not buy or drink it. Drinking too much makes people drunk and is unsafe for driving. Phrases: «a pint of beer», «beer garden» (outdoor area of a pub), «ginger beer», «root beer».

Examples

• Dad had one beer at the barbecue and then switched to water. tree →
• Beer is made from barley, water, hops and yeast. tree →
• You must be an adult to buy beer. tree →
• Ginger beer is a fizzy soft drink that children can have. tree →
• Root beer is popular in the USA and has no alcohol. tree →
• The pub has a beer garden with a play area. tree →
• People should never drive after drinking beer. tree →
• In the story, the farmer brewed beer in a big wooden barrel. tree →

Note

Uncountable as a drink («some beer»), countable as a serving («two beers»). It contains alcohol, which is harmful to children's growing bodies. «Ginger beer» and «root beer» are usually soft drinks despite the name — a trap. Do not confuse with «bier» (a stand for a coffin), which sounds the same.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is not the drink but part of a place name: Beer means "well" in Hebrew, so Beer-sheba is "well of the oath" or "well of seven."

Interpretation. Tradition links the name to the oath Abraham and Abimelech swore over a well, and to the seven ewe-lambs Abraham gave as a witness.

Examples

• And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. (Torah GEN.26.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. (Torah GEN.28.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day. (Torah GEN.26.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Biziothiah; (Prophets JOS.15.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual; (Writings 1CH.4.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and the towns thereof; (Writings NEH.11.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable as a drink («some beer»), countable as a serving («two beers»). It contains alcohol, which is harmful to children's growing bodies. «Ginger beer» and «root beer» are usually soft drinks despite the name — a trap. Do not confuse with «bier» (a stand for a coffin), which sounds the same.