# On the wagon or off the wagon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-wagon-or-off-the-wagon/30480 "2000-08-23T18:54:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kevals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@kevals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevals)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-wagon-or-off-the-wagon/30480/1 "2000-08-23T18:54:39Z")
on or off the wagon? I asked someone the other day if they were still on the wagon (She was cutting smoking out). But then realized that everyone has a different way of looking at it and that my own view is muddled. I know it originates with drinking (I should say I think) but also applies to other assorted misbehaviors. When are you on the wagon?, when you are drinking, or are not. And what is the origin of the phrase? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-wagon-or-off-the-wagon/30480/2 "2000-08-23T19:08:00Z")
“On the wagon” means that you are not drinking. I always assumed that it had historical roots in the Temperance Movement. Maybe they rode reformed drunks around town on a wagon to advertise their cause? ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-wagon-or-off-the-wagon/30480/3 "2000-08-23T19:38:34Z")
“On the wagon” comes from “on the water wagon”,a term to indicate that you’ve given up “John Barleycorn” for more temperate ways.