like a dose of salts Definition

dose
noun

1. medicine.
The measured quantity of medicine, ionizing radiation such as X-rays, or some other therapeutic agent that is recommended or prescribed by a doctor to be administered to a patient at any one time, or at regular intervals over a period of time.
Thesaurus: measure, draught, shot, prescription.
2. The amount of ionizing radiation to which a person is exposed over a specified period of time.
3. colloq
A bout, especially of an illness or something unpleasant.
Example: a dose of the flu
4. slang
Any sexually transmitted disease, especially gonorrhoea.
Thesaurus: social disease (US slang), sexually transmitted disease, STD, venereal disease.

verb

dosed, dosing
1. To give them medicine, especially in large quantities.

Form: dose someone up with something (also)

Idiom: like a dose of salts

colloq
Extremely quickly and effectively.

Etymology: 17c: from Greek dosis giving.