Phrase guide

sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Indulgent and pleasurable activities.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

In use since the 1960s, later popularized by the song “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” (Ian Dury and the Blockheads, 1977).

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: sexe, drogue et 'rock n' roll — indulgent and pleasurable activities
  • German: Wein, Weib und Gesang — indulgent and pleasurable activities
  • Italian: sesso, droga e rock 'n' roll — indulgent and pleasurable activities
  • Latin: venus, vina, musica — indulgent and pleasurable activities
  • Portuguese: sexo, drogas e rock and roll — indulgent and pleasurable activities
  • Swedish: vin, kvinnor och sång — indulgent and pleasurable activities