English

Prepositional phrase

down the hatch

1. (idiomatic) Into the mouth and down the throat, especially with regard to the consumption of a beverage.
   • 1943 March 22, "AIR: You've Had It," Time (retrieved 7 Feb 2010):

     In Cairo, the New York Herald Tribune's correspondent, John ("Tex") O'Reilly, found U.S. soldiers no less infected with the new English language: "When two Americans are having a drink they no longer shout ‘Down the hatch!’ They raise their glasses and say ‘Cheers’ in modulated tones."

   • 2008 Jan. 30, Paul Lukas, "Gluttonous Rite Survives Without Silverware ," New York Times (retrieved 7 Feb 2010):

     As waiters brought trays of meat, the guests reached over and harvested the pink slices with their bare hands, popping them down the hatch.

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