drink the kool-aid 

To completely buy into an idea or system, whether good or bad.

Coach Bellichick got his players to drink the kool-aid.

drink the kool-aid by Some Guy February 4, 2005

drink the kool-aid 

Going along with what a crowd desires. Often used when a person changes positions on a topic.

Dave got a haircut and a new suit. Looks like his company is making him drink the kool-aid.

drink the kool-aid by ryanjames May 30, 2006

drink the kool-aid 

To make a wholehearted, unconditional commitment (to some group, or idea, or plan) in contrast to choosing an alternative. It emphasizes a resolute decision (good or bad) in response to a choice.

This is a reference to the "electric Kool-Aid acid tests," which were LSD parties held in the San Francisco Bay area in the mid 1960's. Someone who was willing to drink the LSD-laced Kool-Aid had, symbolically, made a choice to join (if only for a few hours) a counterculture that stood against conventional society. Once you take acid, you're committed -- the trip lasts for hours and you can't cut it short or change your mind. Once you've drunk the kool-aid, you're firmly committed.

IMHO it is not about suicide: kool-aid isn't a symbol for poison.

Coach got his players to drink the kool-aid.

I really like Macintosh computers; I've totally drunk the Apple kool-aid.

That berserk guy who tried to kill people at the Tides Foundation really had drunk the kool-aid that the right-wing media were serving.

drink the kool-aid by LandruBek May 1, 2011

don't drink the kool-aid 

Comes from a religious mass suicide from poisoned kool-aid. When people are going to a meeting of a controversial group, they are sometimes warned not to drink the kool-aid

Oh, you're becoming a scientologist? That's ok, just don't drink the kool-aid.

don't drink the kool-aid by bob. November 23, 2004

don't drink the kool-aid 

One specific form of the more general term drink the kool-aid. Please refer to that definition for a more complete understanding.

"Don't drink the Kool-Aid"

don't drink the kool-aid by Nugget April 26, 2005

Drank the Kool-Aid

Drawn from the mass suicide of 914 followers of cult leader Jim Jones in 1978 by drinking Flavor-Aid laced with cyanide (known as the "Jonestown Massacre"). Someone who "Drank the Kool-Aid" has so bought into their leader's vision or cause they will blindly follow to their own doom.

Other companies adapted and were successful. However, James continued to believe his bosses were right not to adapt--even after the company had to file for bankruptcy. James really "drank the Kool-Aid".

Drank the Kool-Aid by Kevin November 10, 2004

Drank the Kool-Aid

Term to define someone who blindly follows authority or someone else without really thinking about the consequences. This definition was inspired by the Jonestown massacre that killed over 900 people. Fun fact: Jonestown was the biggest American tragedy prior to 9/11.

Boomers: “Those millennials are always following those celebrities and doing dumb challenges on the Internet. They drank the Kool-Aid.”

Drank the Kool-Aid by TheRealLaura789 April 18, 2020