A Chaser Follows a Stronger Drink
A chaser pursues, and in a bar it is the mild drink taken after a strong one. The name is exact.
A chaser is one who chases. In a bar it names a specific ritual: a small beer or soft drink taken immediately after a spirit, chasing it down. British pubs call the spirit and its follower a *boilermaker* when the pairing is whisky and beer, and the sequence matters — the chaser always comes second.
- One who chases. *A storm chaser.*
- A mild drink after a strong one. *A whisky with a beer chaser.*
- A pursuing vessel. *The chaser closed in.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | chaser | A beer chaser. |
| Plural | chasers | Storm chasers. |
| Verb | chase | Chase the lead. |
| Related | steeplechase | A steeplechase race. |
| Related | boilermaker | Order a boilermaker. |
How it is used in a sentence
- A whisky with a water chaser.Drinks.
- Storm chasers follow tornadoes.Meteorology and photography.
- A steeplechase once ran between church steeples.Which is where the name comes from.
Kinds of chaser
- Drinks chaser — the mild drink taken after a spirit
- Storm chaser — someone who pursues severe weather
- Ambulance chaser — a lawyer touting for accident cases
- Chaser — in Quidditch and some ball games, a playing position
- Steeplechase — a race with obstacles, originally between church steeples
From *chase*, from Old French *chacier*, from Latin *captare*, to try to catch — the same root as *catch* and *capture*.
Where does *steeplechase* come from?
From cross-country horse races run between two church steeples, which were the only landmarks visible across country.
Are chase and catch related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *captare*, through Norman French and Central French forms respectively.