gateway drug

[ geyt-wey druhg ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any drug, as a stimulant or tranquilizer, whose use may lead to the use of more dangerous or addictive drugs such as heroin.

gateway drug

a recreational drug such as cannabis, the use of which is believed by some to encourage the user to try stronger drugs

First recorded in 1985–90

Plus it is clear that plastic surgery is a gateway drug for those both so inclined and so well-heeled.

But I do like the notion of same-sex marriage as a liberation gateway drug.

“For the girls who have never bought a business book, I think this can be the gateway drug,” Amoruso says.

In fact, various media outlets have re-reported what has effectively been a faux gateway-drug story for at least 10 years.

The second major critique is that boycotting the settlements represents a kind of gateway drug to boycotting all of Israel.

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