drunk tank

noun, Informal.
1.
a large jail cell where persons arrested for drunkenness are kept, usually overnight.
Origin
1940-45
Examples from the web for drunk tank
  • Besides the regular cell blocks, there is also a padded cell and a drunk tank.
  • The police put him in the drunk tank to sober up before talking to him.
British Dictionary definitions for drunk tank

drunk tank

noun
1.
(informal) a large police cell used for detaining drunks overnight
Slang definitions & phrases for drunk tank

drunk tank

noun phrase

A police detention cell for intoxicated persons: A police reporter had to pick him out of the collection in the drunk tank (1940s+)