social lubricant

English

Etymology

By a metaphor in which facilitating human social interaction is portrayed as lubricating machinery (e.g., oiling the gears, greasing the wheels); in this regard, compare also lubrication payment.

Noun

social lubricant (plural social lubricants)

  1. (idiomatic) A food, beverage, drug or activity that helps people feel more comfortable in social occasions.
    • 2025 October 25, Madeleine Speed, “Heineken stirs debate on health with toast to beer's role as a social lubricant”, in FT Weekend, page 1:
      Beer's qualities as a “social lubricant” should play an important role in the debate on the harms of alcohol, according to the boss of Heineken.

See also

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