juice
juice — verb
1. to press or squeeze fruit or vegetables so that the liquid inside comes out
to press or squeeze fruit or vegetables so that the liquid inside comes out
Élise juiced three oranges for fresh breakfast juice every morning.
collocation: juice + fruit (oranges)
Camille juiced a bag of carrots before adding the ginger to the pot.
Lien juiced a whole bunch of celery and mixed the liquid with apple.
collocation: juice + vegetable (celery)
The pomegranates were juiced and strained for the dinner party drinks.
passive: were juiced
Juice the limes first, and the drink will taste much fresher.
- juice oranges
- juice carrots
- juice lemons
- juice celery
- freshly juiced
- squeeze
more general; can be done by hand or with a tool, and does not specifically refer to extracting juice from the whole fruit
- press
implies using a tool or device to apply pressure, often in industrial or kitchen contexts
- extract
more formal or technical; used in broader contexts beyond fruit and vegetables
Grammar Patterns
juice + [fruit/vegetable]
Usage Note
Object must be a fruit or vegetable — not used for individual slices or wedges (use squeeze instead).
Common Mistakes
juice — noun
1. the natural liquid that is found inside fruit and vegetables, which you can sque
the natural liquid that is found inside fruit and vegetables, which you can squeeze or press out and often drink
Every morning, Ayana drinks a glass of fresh orange juice with her breakfast.
collocation: fresh orange juice
Cyrus squeezed the lemons and poured the juice into a small bowl.
This apple juice is made from a mix of sweet and sour apples.
The recipe calls for the juice of two limes and a spoonful of sugar.
collocation: the juice of [fruit]
Putri bought a carton of mango juice from the shop on her way home.
- fresh juice
- fruit juice
- apple/orange/lemon juice
- glass of juice
- juice from [fruit]
Usage Note
Usually uncountable — you say 'some juice' or 'a glass of juice', not 'a juice' (for servings, see sense 2).
Common Mistakes
2. a serving of the liquid from fruit or vegetables that you drink, or a particular
a serving of the liquid from fruit or vegetables that you drink, or a particular variety of this drink
Adina ordered a juice and a sandwich for lunch at the café.
countable: a juice = a serving
The shop sells over ten different juices, including carrot and ginger.
I will have the mixed berry juice with my lunch today.
Christopher tried a new green juice made from kale and celery.
collocation: green juice
- a juice
- different juices
- try a juice
- organic juices
Usage Note
This is the countable form of sense 1. Use 'a juice' to mean a glass/cup of juice, or 'juices' to mean multiple types or servings.
3. the liquid released from meat, poultry, or fish as it cooks, often used as a bas
the liquid released from meat, poultry, or fish as it cooks, often used as a base for sauces and gravies
Asher let the steak rest for five minutes so the juices would settle through the meat.
collocation: meat juices
Élise poured the pan juices over the roasted chicken before serving it.
The juices from the lamb mixed with the herbs to make a rich gravy.
When you cut into the pork, the juices should run clear with no pink colour.
- meat juices
- pan juices
- cooking juices
- the juices run clear
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural form 'juices' when referring to meat liquid. 'Juice' (singular) is possible for a specific small amount.
4. the electrical energy stored in a battery that makes a device such as a phone, l
the electrical energy stored in a battery that makes a device such as a phone, laptop, or camera work
Sora's phone ran out of juice halfway through the meeting.
informal: run out of juice
I need to charge my laptop — it is almost out of juice.
Asher brought a backup battery pack in case his camera ran low on juice.
My tablet still has plenty of juice left for the rest of the flight.
- run out of juice
- low on juice
- plenty of juice
- juice left
Usage Note
Informal. Used almost exclusively in the phrase 'run out of juice' or 'low on juice'. Does not refer to mains electricity (see sense 5) or social/political power.
5. a supply of electrical power that runs lights, appliances, or machines through a
a supply of electrical power that runs lights, appliances, or machines through a fixed wiring system
The storm cut the juice to the whole neighbourhood for six hours.
informal: the juice = mains electricity
Luca flipped the switch and the juice started flowing to the workshop machines.
Putri checked the fuse box to see which rooms still had juice after the trip.
The generator provides enough juice to run the hospital's emergency lights and pumps.
- cut the juice
- turn on the juice
- juice flowing
- have juice
- power
neutral, more formal; the standard term for electrical supply
- electricity
neutral and formal; the technical term for electrical energy
Usage Note
Informal. Refers to mains electricity, not battery power (sense 4). Common in phrases like 'cut the juice' or 'turn the juice back on'.
6. a liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power car and truck engines
a liquid fuel made from petroleum, used to power car and truck engines
Lauren stopped at the gas station to fill up on juice before the long drive home.
informal slang (US): juice = petrol
Cyrus's old truck runs best when you give it good-quality juice.
Antonia checked the fuel gauge and realised she was low on juice.
The boat took on a full tank of juice before setting out to sea.
- fill up on juice
- low on juice
- tank of juice
Usage Note
Slang, primarily American English. Less common than 'gas' or 'petrol'. Use 'fill up on juice' or 'low on juice' to sound casual and informal.
7. informal power to control people or to make things happen in a particular situat
informal power to control people or to make things happen in a particular situation — for example, a well-connected politician who can get roads repaired or permits approved.
Saira's family name carries a lot of juice in local politics around here.
carries juice — has influence
The CEO lost his juice with the board after the merger failed badly.
lose juice — lose influence
New lobbyists are trying to get enough juice to influence city decisions.
Ramón used his political juice to get the street repaired before winter.
political juice — influence in politics
Without any real juice in the department, Niran's suggestions were ignored.
- carry juice
- have juice
- use your juice
- political juice
- lose your juice
- weakness
opposite: lack of power or influence
Grammar Patterns
have juice
use one's juice
lose juice
Usage Note
Slang term used in informal contexts, especially about politics, business, or organisational power. Cannot be used in formal writing.
Common Mistakes
8. physical or mental energy that makes a person able to keep doing an activity wit
physical or mental energy that makes a person able to keep doing an activity without stopping
After three hours of running, Mira's legs had no juice left in them.
no juice left — no energy remaining
A good breakfast gives you enough juice to get through a hard morning.
Christopher had the creative juice to turn the small idea into a hit product.
creative juice — mental energy for creativity
Sayaka felt her juice drain away after carrying boxes up three flights.
The team ran out of juice in the final ten minutes of the game.
run out of juice — become exhausted
- have juice
- run out of juice
- creative juice
- get your juice back
- drain your juice
- exhaustion
state of having no energy left
Grammar Patterns
have juice
run out of juice
get some juice back
Usage Note
Informal. Often used in phrases like run out of juice (become exhausted) or get one's juice back (recover energy). Not used in formal or scientific contexts.
Common Mistakes
9. an informal word for any alcoholic drink, especially strong liquor like whisky o
an informal word for any alcoholic drink, especially strong liquor like whisky or vodka
We brought a bottle of juice to the party for everyone to share.
bottle of juice — bottle of alcohol
Ramón likes to sip juice at the bar and chat with old friends.
Inês asked the bartender for some juice to warm her up after the walk.
The party got noisy once people started pouring juice into their cups.
pouring juice — serving alcoholic drinks
Kian was told to keep the juice away from the minors at the wedding.
- bottle of juice
- pouring juice
- sip juice
- keep the juice away
Grammar Patterns
drink juice
a bottle of juice
have some juice
Usage Note
Slang, most common in North American English. Heard in casual conversation, parties, and bars. Avoid in any formal or polite context.
Common Mistakes
10. illegal muscle-building drugs that some bodybuilders and athletes inject or swal
illegal muscle-building drugs that some bodybuilders and athletes inject or swallow to make their bodies larger much faster than training alone allows
Some athletes take juice to build muscle faster than training alone allows.
take juice — use anabolic steroids
The coach warned the young players about the health risks of using juice.
Kian was caught with juice at the gym and banned from future competitions.
Adisa admitted to being on juice for two years before the championship.
on juice — using steroids habitually
The documentary showed how easily young athletes can get juice online.
- on juice
- take juice
- use juice
- get juice
- caught with juice
Grammar Patterns
be on juice
take juice
use juice
Usage Note
Slang term. Used in discussions of sports doping, bodybuilding culture, and banned substances. Not a medical or official term — avoid in formal reports or medical contexts.
Common Mistakes
11. a flavoured liquid that contains nicotine and is heated inside an e-cigarette or
a flavoured liquid that contains nicotine and is heated inside an e-cigarette or similar device so that the user breathes in the vapour
The shop sells juice in different flavours like mango and fresh mint.
juice in different flavours — flavoured vape liquid
Adisa bought a bottle of nicotine-free juice for his new vape device.
Sayaka checked the label to see how much nicotine the juice contained.
The government introduced new rules about selling flavoured juice to teens.
flavoured juice — vape liquid with added flavour
Jessica spilled her juice all over the table when the device tipped over.
- vape juice
- flavoured juice
- nicotine juice
- bottle of juice
- buy juice
- e-liquid
more formal term; commonly used in product labelling
- vape juice
fuller slang term; equally common in vaping communities
- e-juice
another slang variant; same meaning and register
Grammar Patterns
buy juice
vape juice
nicotine juice
Usage Note
Slang term from vaping culture. Often called 'vape juice' or 'e-juice'. The countable use (a juice, various juices) refers to different flavours or brands.
Common Mistakes
12. natural fluids produced by the body to help with processes such as digestion — f
natural fluids produced by the body to help with processes such as digestion — for example, the acids and enzymes made in the stomach to break down food
Digestive juices in the stomach help break down the food that you eat.
digestive juices — stomach fluids for digestion
The doctor explained how gastric juices can damage the stomach lining over time.
Certain medicines reduce the amount of acid in your gastric juices.
Mayumi read about how pancreatic juices help digest proteins and fats.
pancreatic juices — fluids from the pancreas
When the body produces too little digestive juice, eating becomes uncomfortable.
- digestive juices
- gastric juices
- pancreatic juices
- produce juices
- stomach juices
- secretions
more general; covers all fluids released by glands, not just digestive
- fluids
broader term; less specific to digestion
- enzymes
refers specifically to the protein components, not the fluid as a whole
Grammar Patterns
digestive juices
gastric juices
pancreatic juices
Usage Note
Usually appears in the plural (digestive juices, gastric juices) when referring to specific types of bodily fluid. The singular form (digestive juice) is possible when talking about the substance in general.
Common Mistakes
to be left to suffer the unpleasant consequences of your own actions, without anyone helping you
After lying to his teammates, Theo was left to stew in his own juice for the rest of the season.
The manager decided not to interfere and let the board stew in their own juice after the failed deal.
To allow someone to experience the negative results of their own choices without helping them.
After he lied to his boss, Maya let him stew in his own juice.
Should we help Diego, or let him stew in his own juice for a while?
Word family
- juicyadjectiveB1
- juicernounB2
- juicelessadjectiveC1
- juice upphrasal verbB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four terms describe drinkable liquids, but they differ in thickness, sweetness, and preparation. 'Juice' is the natural liquid pressed from fruit or vegetables — you drink it as-is. 'Nectar' is a thick, sweet juice made from specific tropical fruits like mango or peach, and is often sold in cans with added sugar. 'Squash' and 'cordial' are British English terms for concentrated fruit syrups that you dilute with water before drinking — squash tends to be less sweet than cordial. 'Syrup' is the thickest of the group, made by boiling sugar with fruit or flavourings; it is used more in cooking and cocktails than as a standalone drink. Example: 'He poured himself a glass of orange juice' / 'We diluted the cordial with sparkling water' / 'Thick mango nectar with ice cream for dessert' / 'Pour syrup over the pancakes, not into the drinking glass.'
Common collocations
Phrases
- fruit juice
- orange juice
- apple juice
- lemon juice
- grape juice
- carrot juice
- tomato juice
- fresh juice
- homemade juice
- glass of juice
- carton of juice
- bottle of juice
- pan juices
- meat juices
- cooking juices
- gastric juices
- digestive juices
- pancreatic juices
- run out of juice
- low on juice
- plenty of juice
- cut the juice
- turn on the juice
- fill up on juice
- political juice
- creative juice
- have juice
- lose your juice
- on juice
- vape juice
- flavoured juice
- nicotine juice
Etymology
Juice entered English in the 1200s from Old French 'jus', meaning 'liquid from plants or animals'. That word came from Latin 'iūs', which originally meant 'broth' or 'sauce'. The informal senses (electricity, fuel, power) developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s as slang extensions of the idea of 'life-giving liquid'.