breathalyze
Definition
Verb: * To administer a breathalyzer test to someone. This means to use a device (a breathalyzer) to measure the concentration of alcohol in a person's breath, which indicates their blood alcohol level, typically to determine if they are legally fit to drive.
Usage
This verb is transitive and is used in legal, law enforcement, and informal contexts. The object of the verb is the person being tested. * The police officer has the authority to breathalyze a driver at a traffic stop. * After the accident, all drivers involved were breathalyzed.
Examples
- The suspect refused to be breathalyzed.
- New legislation allows officers to randomly breathalyze motorists.
- "I had one beer, but they still breathalyzed me at the checkpoint."
Advanced Usage
- The verb is often used in the passive voice ("was breathalyzed") to describe the experience of the person being tested.
- It can be used figuratively in very informal contexts to imply a severe or intense scrutiny, though this is not the standard meaning.
- After his terrible presentation, the boss breathalyzed his entire proposal. (Figurative, meaning examined it with extreme criticism).
Variants and Related Words
- Breathalyzer (noun, trademark): The device used to conduct the test.
- The officer carried a portable breathalyzer.
- Breath test (noun): A more generic term for the procedure.
- He failed the roadside breath test.
- Breathalyzed (past tense/participle): The common form for the past action.
- Breathalyzing (present participle/gerund).
Synonyms
- Test (for alcohol)
- Screen (for alcohol impairment)
Related Phrases
- Take a breath test: A common phrase with the same meaning as "be breathalyzed."
- The driver was asked to take a breath test.
- Submit to a breathalyzer: A more formal way to describe agreeing to the test.
- He chose to submit to a breathalyzer to prove his sobriety.
Verb
-
test someone's alcohol level in his blood by means of a breathalyzer
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