on the nod

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

In a stuporous state following a high from heroin.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

She was nearly 'on the nod' from all the heroin she had coursing through her veins and couldn't handle a struggle.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org). Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).

Common questions

What does “on the nod” mean?

In a stuporous state following a high from heroin.

Is “on the nod” formal or informal?

on the nod is generally slang.