Vocabulary – Difference Between Go for a Drink, Go for Drink and Go for Drinks

difference

When you suggest going to drink an alcoholic beverage, you may say:

  1. Let's go for a drink.
  2. Let's go for drink.
  3. Let's go for drinks.

I searched for google ngram for the usages:

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All of the three forms are used while 'go for a drink' is the preferred choice. Except for the frequency of usage, are there any differences in the meanings?

I thought of 'go to drink' also:

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The 'go to drink' is less frequent than 'go for a drink' but more frequent than the others.

Best Answer

  1. (1) is idiomatic, and roughly means "Let's go to a bar/pub/etc. and socialize for a little while." While alcohol will be served, it's not really the point of the exercise. Socially, this is equivalent to having lunch with someone, but with alcohol instead of food.
  2. You cannot say (2), because the singular "drink" requires a determiner. It is grammatically incorrect without "a" or another word to introduce it.
  3. (3) implies going to the pub or bar (like (1)), but further connotes that you will be staying there for much of the evening. It's a longer time period than (1), though exactly how much longer will depend greatly on group dynamics and other factors.
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