or charter the grocery, verbal phr. (American).—To buy up the whole of the liquor at a bar and stand drinks all round as long as it lasts. This freak is not infrequent in the West. In Australia a similar expression is SHOUTING ONESELF HOARSE (q.v.).
18[?]. J. G. BALDWIN, David Bolus, Esq. Bolus was no niggard. He would as soon treat a regiment, or CHARTER THE GROCERY for the day, as any other way.
