Protect a drunk vs Prevent a drunk

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Protect a drunk' implies taking care of someone who is intoxicated to ensure their safety, while 'prevent a drunk' suggests stopping someone from becoming intoxicated in the first place.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 642 views

This phrase is correct and can be used when referring to taking care of someone who is intoxicated to ensure their safety.

"Protect a drunk"

This phrase is used when describing the act of looking after or ensuring the safety of a person who is drunk or intoxicated.

Examples:

I need to protect my drunk friend and make sure they get home safely.
It's important to protect a drunk person from harm when they are in a vulnerable state.

Show examples from the web [+]

Little early for a drunk-driving checkpoint.
A drunk singing, disturbing the peace.
- Bubbles, Lahey is a drunk trailer-park supervisor and Randy's a drunk cheeseburger eater.
Just because a drunk admits he's a drunk doesn't make him any more sober.
- How dare you protect a serial rapist.
Assigned to protect a murder witness.
You were just... a drunk Tae Gong Shil last night.
Every 15 minutes, a teenager is killed in a drunk driving accident.
I lost my son Adam in a drunk driving accident.
She was drawn to trouble like a drunk to the bottle.
She was a drunk who ran a youth hostel.
Figured he was just a lunatic or a drunk.
All this cause of a drunk girl.
I'm saying that you're a drunk.
I had lunch at a Staten Island Chili's and banged a drunk hairdresser.
So we got a drunk driver driving along with tallow candle burning in the cup holder.
I heard there was a drunk limey teaching' this class.
You're just a drunk trailer-park supervisor now.
Millicent Huxtable, you are before this court on a drunk-driving charge.
Yeah. Nothing spoils a party like a drunk in a wheelchair.

Alternatives:

take care of a drunk
ensure the safety of a drunk
look after a drunk person
watch over a drunk individual
keep an eye on a drunk

This phrase is correct and can be used when referring to stopping someone from becoming intoxicated.

"Prevent a drunk"

This phrase is used when describing actions taken to stop someone from becoming drunk or intoxicated.

Examples:

We need to prevent a drunk from getting behind the wheel.
It's important to prevent a drunk from consuming more alcohol.

Show examples from the web [+]

A product which makes such claims for itself could prove to be extremely dangerous, and would fly in the face of all policies designed to prevent drunk driving.
Little early for a drunk-driving checkpoint.
A drunk singing, disturbing the peace.
- Bubbles, Lahey is a drunk trailer-park supervisor and Randy's a drunk cheeseburger eater.
Just because a drunk admits he's a drunk doesn't make him any more sober.
You were just... a drunk Tae Gong Shil last night.
Every 15 minutes, a teenager is killed in a drunk driving accident.
I lost my son Adam in a drunk driving accident.
She was drawn to trouble like a drunk to the bottle.
She was a drunk who ran a youth hostel.
Figured he was just a lunatic or a drunk.
All this cause of a drunk girl.
I'm saying that you're a drunk.
I had lunch at a Staten Island Chili's and banged a drunk hairdresser.
So we got a drunk driver driving along with tallow candle burning in the cup holder.
I heard there was a drunk limey teaching' this class.
You're just a drunk trailer-park supervisor now.
Millicent Huxtable, you are before this court on a drunk-driving charge.
Yeah. Nothing spoils a party like a drunk in a wheelchair.
She said her mother was on a drunk.

Alternatives:

stop someone from getting drunk
avoid someone becoming intoxicated
deter someone from drinking excessively
discourage someone from drinking
intervene to prevent intoxication

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Protect a drunk vs Prevent a drunk

"Protect a drunk"

"Prevent a drunk"

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