drunk the Kool-Aid
Accepted without question
Drunk the Kool-Aid means to have accepted a belief, ideology, or group's worldview uncritically—often with cult-like devotion.
The phrase alludes to the 1978 Jonestown massacre, where cult members died drinking poisoned Flavor Aid.
Despite the grim origin, usage is usually casual or dismissive: He's completely drunk the Kool-Aid on crypto.
The present tense drink the Kool-Aid describes adopting such beliefs; the past tense indicates someone already has.
- JonestownInfamous cult settlement
- fanaticismObsessive, unreasoning dedication
- zealotryExcessive devotion to beliefs
- brainwashingCoercive psychological manipulation
- Jim JonesCult leader, mass murderer
cult leader · propaganda · party line · peer pressure · echo chamber · cults · indoctrination · true believer · true believers · herd mentality · dogma · corporate culture · all in · loyalty · cognitive dissonance · conformity · mass suicide · obedience
drunk the Kool-Aidskeptic
One who doubts claims
critical thinker · doubter · smelled a rat · freethinker · cynic
drunk the Kool-Aiddissenter
Opponent of orthodoxy
apostate · defector · whistleblower · left the fold · nonconformist
drunk the Kool-Aidwoke up
Became alert after sleeping
saw the light · snapped out of it · took the red pill · deprogrammed
drunk, drink, drank, drinks, drinking, drinker, drinkers, drinkable, undrinkable