local watering hole

Meaning

A 'local watering hole' is a humorous, figurative term for a neighborhood bar, pub, or tavern where people from the local community gather to drink and socialize. The phrase is borrowed from nature, where animals gather around a pool of water to drink. It has a warm, casual, and friendly connotation.

Examples

• After a long day at work, the team usually heads down to the local watering hole for a pint.

  After a long day at work, the team usually heads down to the local watering hole for a pint.

• If you want to meet the residents of this small town, just spend an evening at the local watering hole.

  If you want to meet the residents of this small town, just spend an evening at the local watering hole.

• It's not a fancy cocktail lounge, just a cozy local watering hole with cheap beers and a pool table.

  It's not a fancy cocktail lounge, just a cozy local watering hole with cheap beers and a pool table.

• We found a great local watering hole near our Airbnb that serves amazing craft beer.

  We found a great local watering hole near our Airbnb that serves amazing craft beer.

• Every Friday night, he can be found sitting at the bar of his favorite local watering hole.

  Every Friday night, he can be found sitting at the bar of his favorite local watering hole.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Let's go to the local watering place.

  ✓ Let's go to the local watering hole.

  The idiom is fixed as 'watering hole'. Changing 'hole' to 'place' or 'spot' ruins the natural idiom.

• ✗ The local watering hole is a great place to buy fresh water.

  ✓ The local watering hole is a great place to grab a beer.

  Despite the word 'water', a watering hole in modern English refers to an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages, not actual drinking water.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Whenever I travel, I try to avoid tourist traps and hang out at the ___ instead.

  💡 the neighborhood bar where locals go

  Show answer

  local watering hole

• The Irish pub on the corner has become our ___.

  💡 regular spot for drinks and socializing

  Show answer

  local watering hole