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1. Lit. to leave a sinking ship. The captain ordered the crew and passengers to abandon ship.
2. . Fig. to leave a failing enterprise. A lot of the younger people are abandoning ship because they can get jobs
elsewhere easily.
jump ship
1. Lit. to leave one's job on a ship and fail to be aboard it when it sails; [for a sailor] to go AWOL. One of the deckhands
jumped ship at the last port.
2. Fig. to leave any post or position; to quit or resign, especially when there is difficulty with the job. None of the editors
liked the new policies, so they all jumped ship as soon as other jobs opened up.
Rats abandon a sinking ship. and like rats abandoning a sinking ship
Prov. You can tell when something is about to fail because large numbers of people begin to leave it. (Can imply that the
people who leave are "rats," that is, selfish and disloyal.) Jill: The company next door must be going bankrupt. Jane: How
do you know? Jill: All its employees are resigning. Rats abandon a sinking ship.
a sinking ship
a company or other organization that is failing He'd seen the company's accounts, realized he was on a sinking ship, and
decided to get off.
jump ship
if you jump ship, you leave a job or activity suddenly before it is finished, especially to go and work for someone else
Another advertising agency offered him $1000 to jump ship.
a sinking ship
an organization that is failing She says the school is a sinking ship, and has no money to hire additional teachers.
jump ship
to leave a job or activity suddenly Although most of our employees are satisfied with their jobs, half of them would
probably jump ship if something becames available elsewhere. The original star of the TV series jumped ship after the first
season.
Usage notes: often said about someone who goes to work for another company
Etymology: based on the literal meaning of jump ship (to leave a ship without permission while it is temporarily in a port in
the middle of a trip)
ship out
Leave, especially for a distant place, as in The transport planes carried troops shipping out to the Mediterranean.
Although this usage originally meant “depart by ship,” the expression is no longer limited to that mode of travel. [c. 1900]
Send, export, especially to a distant place, as in The factory shipped out many more orders last month. [Mid-1600s]
Quit a job or be fired
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OLD SALT: M: Retired person; a genuine sort of person. O: Veteran mariner - mainly fisherman.
LIMEY: M: English person in the States. O: Yankie term for a British seaman. From the lime-juice they used to drink as a
precaution against scurvy.
ALL HANDS ON DECK / ALL TOLD: M: Everyone should gather together to their stations / Positions and prepare for
action....
GIVE A HAND: M: Can you help me for a moment. O: The use of the singular word 'Hand' indicates that this is a nautical
phrase. A seafarer always had to keep 'one hand for himself' to hold on to the rigging for safety reasons. Therefore, he
only had one hand free to help anyone else. Thus, the phrase / request for "a hand".
KNOW (LEARN) THE ROPES: M: Applied to a novice learning a new job. O: Have a detailed knowledge of the ship's
rigging.
THERE'S ENOUGH BLUE IN THE SKY... (LET AUDIENCE FINISH THIS LONG EXPRESSION)TO MAKE A PAIR OF
SAILOR'S TROUSERS:
M: The cloudy weather will clear and turn out sunny. O: ? Dutch sailors used to weave very baggy trousers
POP-EYE THE SAILOR MAN: Joke = He is becoming so popular again, that sale of spinach are on the increase. The
newspaper article made no mention about the sales of Olive Oil!
POSH: Abbreviation: Port Outward, Starboard Home. A term used on luxury P & O liners sailing to the Far East to
indicate which side of the vessel was the most comfortable - for wealthy passengers who paid extra for being on the
cooler side of the ship. The word POSH soon came to be applied to the first-class passengers. (Brewer, however, states
that "This traditional explanation is apparently fictitious" p.873). And the Oxford Dictionary claims it to be "from a slang
word meaning Dandy".
PLUMB THE DEPTHS: M: Find out what is going on.?? O: Using a lead weight on a line to determine the unseen depth
of water below the ship.
FATHOM SOMETHING OUT: M: I cannot understand something or someone. O: To determine the depth of something. "I
cannot fathom it out!" - my lead-line was not long enough to reach the bottom.
GANGWAY:
M: Get out of the way. Usually shouted at ratings for them to step aside for a superior naval officer. (RN)
O: In the slave galley ships, the gangway was the boarded gap between the rowers which allowed the slaves to walk from
the stem to the stern. And where the tall mast was laid when the galley was unshipped.
J: On a Galley ship there was an evil-minded Slave Driver who beat the gong for the rhyme of rowers. When it was his
birthday he picked on one of the slaves and tied him to the gong and beat his chest with the hammer. One slave was a bit
of a Smart Alec. When he was brought forward he rubbed a handful of grease onto his chest. Every time the Slave Driver
hit him with the gong it just had no effect. Suddenly all the other Rowers started singing aloud, "Oh! They're sliding a gong
off the chest of a slave!"
O: Naval expression - the Cat is the Cat o'Nine Tails or whip. On the old sailing ships there was not enough room below
decks to swing the whip. That is why beatings were administered on the deck before the rest of the crew. (see Brewer
p.202 for other accounts about Sportsmen and Scottish hangings).
This sort of flogging was meted out in both the Army and Navy. It was not formally abolished as a civil punishment for
crimes of violence until 1948. One belief was that it was nine whips together because it was a "Trinity of trinities" - both a
blessing and beating at the same time.
A RIGHT JONAH: M: A jinx person who brings bad luck to others. O: Hebrew minor prophet...Book of the Old Testament.
God called him to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. He disobeyed and tried to escape by sea, but during a storm he
was blamed and thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish (whale?). He eventually completed his mission...
CHANCE ONE'S ARM (or Luck): M: Do something against the rules and regulations which, if caught in the act, would
result in serious consequences. O: In the Navy an officer would be demoted - with the loss of rank - the badges on the
arm of the jacket were removed.
MOONLIGHTING: M: Person who holds two jobs. O: a smuggler who landed contraband at night under the light of the
moon.
A DROWNING MAN WILL CLUTCH AT A STRAW: M: A desperate person in a dangerous plight will reach out at
anything for help...
HAVE A COB ON: M: Grievance, sulking. O: from M.N. steward's term from the old nautical cob (to strike with the fist)...?
I need to check this out more in future...?
PIPE DOWN: M: Stop being aggressive or noisy, cease talking. O: A naval colloquialism derived from the boatswains' call
of this name meaning "hands turn in". An official order to be quiet and not talk so loud. Navy's version of Army's "Lights
out".
ALL IN THE SAME BOAT: M: Everyone sharing the same adverse conditions.
PUSH THE BOAT OUT:
M: To celebrate lavishly.
DOWN THE HATCH: M: swig back a drink quickly. The ship's hold is analogous to the human stomach.
TO DRINK LIKE A FISH: M: To drink abundantly or excessively. O: Many fish swim opened-mouth, thus appearing to be
continually drinking. The expression is found in Beaumont and Fletcher (whoever they are?) 17th.c. Proverb.
SPLICE THE MAINBRACE: M: Issue an extra tot of rum to the ship's company on the occasion of a celebration. O: In
sailing ships the main brace was the most difficult to splice, it being placed in a highly dangerous position, and when the
hands had finished the job they received the said a tot of grog (watered down rum - but it had to be watered down anyway
because it was 100% proof?). Apparently, the Queen usually gives this order aboard R.Y. Britannia after a particularly
good Royal trip.
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND: M: A drunk who staggers along the street out of control or his mind.
O: (1) A sheet is a rope attached to the clew of a sail used for trimming the sail. If the sheet is free it is said to be a
'sheet in the wind' (the colloquial expression is to be 'tipsy'). Therefore, to have three sheets in the wind is to be very
drunk. 2) Three foresails head into the wind - therefore, a good thing? Taboo: Never hang three sheets on a washing line -
bad omen for those at sea.
SHOW (SHAKE?) A LEG: M: Hurry up with what you are doing. Jump out of bed and be sharp about it. To call the hands
out of their hammocks. O: from the days when women were permitted to sleep on board. They were allowed to 'lie in' and
had to 'show a leg' to ensure that no rating was still turned in. From the days when women went to sea. They were
allowed an extra lie-in from the male ratings.
SON OF A GUN:
M: a good fellow despite his rough manners. Used in a jocular vein to describe such a person.
O: In Nelson's day, women were allowed to live aboard warships such as HMS Victory. There was much heavy drinking
and debauchery on the gun decks. A male child conceived - especially when the father was unknown - was entered on
the ship's log as 'a son of a gun'.(R.N.)
GUN HO!:M: Work together in harmony.O: A phrase picked up by the U.S. Marines during World War II from the Chinese
which means "Work Together".
A GIRL IN EVERY PORT:M: An amorous sailor who got a girl-friend wherever he landed.J: All the Nice Girls Love A
Sailor - SONG?
THE CUT OF HER JIB: M: something to be admired "I like the cut of her jib". Usually referred to the contour or expression
of a person's face. O: The shape of a ship's fore/headsail. A sailor was expected to be able to tell the nationality of
an approaching vessel by the cut of her sails. This distinguished the quality and character of the vessel.
SHIVER MY TIMBERS!: M: Expression of surprise - especially when a ship runs aground. Shiver is used in the sense of
'shatter' - splinter into pieces. Timbers = the wooden hull. O: More used in theatrical sense of stage sailors or authors of
children's books.
PLAIN SAILING: M: Ones troubles and anxieties are a thing of the past (behind you). O: In charge of a sailing vessel in
ideal conditions..
TO TRIM ONE'S SAILS: M: To modify or reshape one's policy or opinion to meet the circumstances. O: A ship's sails are
'trimmed' or adjusted according to the wind.
TO TAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE'S SAILS: M: To slow someone down who is racing along at full speed. Perhaps to
bring down a proud person a peg or two?? Or put forward a counter view or evidence.
GET SPLICED: M: Join together in marriage. O: Join ends of ropes by intertwining the strands.
MONEY FOR OLD ROPE: M: To get something for nothing. An easy job. To get good money for something with is
worthless. Big reward for little effort. O: Old rope was once purchased by dealers for the manufacture of binding and
paper boards.
HELL'S BELLS AND BUCKETS OF BLOOD: M: Exclamation! O: Very old Naval exclamation. Source not known.
SPOIL THE SHIP (SHEEP) FOR A HA'PORTH OF TAR: M: By saving a little, a lot is lost. Leave a job half done. O:
Caulking the wooden decks of a ship to protect against the elements. (This saying can refer to sheep as well as ships.)
SHIP SHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION: M: Everything in perfect order. O: A ship ready for sea. Bristol was synonymous
with seamanlike efficiency and smartness in the days of sail. To be completely organized and ready for sea.
SHOT ACROSS THE BOWS: M: A warning signal to bring to heel. Otherwise, worse will follow. O: From the days of sail
and cannon when Royal Navy deliberately fired a cannon ball across the front of a pirate or enemy vessel to bring it under
its control.
LOOSE CANNON: M: Someone who goes their own way and does not conform to agreed standards of behaviour.
Unpredictable person. Prince Diana was sometimes described as a 'loose canon' within the Royal Family.
ON AN EVEN KEEL: M: A state of stability and balance. O: In ship-yard when a boat is built correctly.
RATS DESERT A SINKING SHIP: M: A derogatory term for a person who leaves friends at the first sign of trouble. O:
17th.c. proverb. Superstition = If seafarers saw a rat leaving a ship this is an ominous sign that the ship would sink.
NAILED YOUR COLOURS TO THE MAST:M: no surrender.O: Surrender at sea was indicated by hauling down one's
colours. But by nailing ones flag to the mast meant this could not be done. The crew would fight to the bitter end with no
chance of compromise.
CUT AND RUN:M: To escape by a sudden manoeuvre.O: To cut a ship's anchor cable in an emergency and make sail in
a hurry - especially when the anchor ropes were made of hemp. This happened when the Spanish Armada was anchored
off Calais. Most of the captains cut their cables on the approach of Howard's fire ships. (MN/RN)
GIVE A WIDE BERTH (STEER CLEAR):M: Avoid a person who is in a foul mood. To keep a safe distance away from a
person, especially if they are dangerous.O: Allow a ship plenty of room to swing at anchor. To keep a safe distance.
STEER CLEAR M: Avoid bumping into each other.Navigating tip: "A little RED PORT LEFT in the bottle" to remember
difference between Red Port and Green Starboard.
AT A RATE OF KNOTS: M: To go at top speed. Someone who is travelling or driving very fast.
O: This abbreviation was adopted internationally on 1st.July 1908. The ill-fated Titanic was one of the first ships to
use this distress call in 1912 and 703 lives were saved. Not necessarily "Save Our Ship/Soul" - more mundanely, in Morse
Code, the three dots and dashes were more clearly understood signals in an emergency.
J: "Re-arranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic" - tinkering about when should be dealing properly with a serious
problem.
MAY DAY!
J: Mae West - when life-belts around waist one looked like the buxom Mae West!!!
O: This expression is a corruption of two French words of distress 'Venez M'aider!'' (Come Help Me!). The English
not only shortened this plea for help, but also made it rhyme.
O:
J: The Shepherd goes down in his Sheep!
O: From the time of the Industrial Revolution - could apply to steam trains or ships. Cargo vessels were once
known as S.S. Borodino / Cicero for Steam Ship.
BRASSED OFF:
O: (R.N.) Resentment of doing excessive polishing of bright (or brass) work aboard H.M. Ships.
O: a ship which touches the seabed or rocks, but is able to sail on without stopping.
M: From beginning to end; front to back; top to bottom. The complete lot of anything.
O: THE STEM : the main upright timber or metal piece at the bow of the ship to which the sides are joined at the
front / pointed end.
THE STERN: the rear / flat end of the ship (Old Norse = steer).
O: Make the vessel seaworthy so that any loose objects are not washed overboard..
M: Honest and straightforward with nothing hidden out of sight below deck. Also related to gambling at the card
table "There is nothing up my sleeve".
O: .
M: To take an irrevocable step. To cut oneself off from all chance of retreat.
O: 19th.c. British proverb. Traced back to 8th. century Saracen leader called TARIK who landed his Islamic forces
on the beaches of Gibraltar (actually, the Rock is named after him = The Hill of Tarik) to invade Catholic Spain. He
ordered that all the wooden sailing vessels which had brought them from North Africa be burnt on the beaches. After this
dramatic act he told his soldiers "There is the sea, there is the enemy. There is no going back until a victory has been
won".
This expression is also attributed to the Greeks during the Trojan Wars and to Pisaro when the Spanish conquered the
Incas of South America.
O: That portion of the anchor rope abaft (which remains behind) the 'bitts' or bollards (the inboard end) after the
anchor in fully payed out - when the vessel is riding at anchor.(M.N.)
It is, however, the word 'bitter' which has tainted this phrase into a highly negative one akin to 'affliction / hostility / adverse
fortune'. In addition, there is a Proverb V.4. "But her end was bitter as wormwood" which may have influenced this phrase.
Assume this is nautical - but needs specific research as to why it is seven? Or is this from the world of boxing? Not
found.
SLING YOUR HOOK:
O: Not nautical. A theatrical term when the manager in the wings hooked off a poor act.
WEIGH ANCHOR:
O: To haul up the anchor. When it is cleared / freed from the seabed it is aweighed / hanging.
M: Conform to what the rest of the group are doing. Do Not step our of line otherwise we will all be in trouble.
O: In a small rowing boat anyone standing up unexpectedly will rock the boat and that is dangerous.
M: When someone is in serious difficulties, they will go anywhere for help and safety - even swallowing their
principles.
O: When in a life-and-death situation, one is forced to put into the nearest port regardless.
IN THE DOLDRUMS:
O: In the oceans near the Equator (in between the Trade Winds), there are areas where a sailing ship could be
becalmed for days or weeks on end. 40 degrees South of the Equator.
O: ??
IN DEEP WATER:
O: ??
O: ? Self explanatory.
IN THE DRINK:
M: The folly of procrastination. Get on with the job in hand. Do not wait around wasting an opportunity.
M: Try to calm a difficult situation. To soothe by gentle words; to use tact and diplomacy.
O: Bede (731) gave oil to a young priest about to escort some important dignitaries on a sea journey. (check
Brewer p.795).
Oil and water don't mix (But they make a fine emulsion?) .
TO TREAD WATER:
O: By moving hands and feet in the water, the body is kept upright and the head above water and able to breath.
IN THE OFFING:
M: something that is due to happen soon - like a the prospects of a new job, etc.
O: Ship seen appearing on the edge of the distant horizon (e.g. its mast or funnel first appears) before the full view
is seen. This is describing as being "In the offing".
M: to help someone out or lend them money while present difficulties pass.
J: "I was reading the other day about some school pupils who thought that Noah's wife was called Joan of Arc".
J: Some people think my jokes came off The Ark. The truth, however, is that I cribbed them from The Dead Sea
Scrolls.
O: ??
O: ?? 19th.c. Proverb
M: Take risks by defying rules. Figuratively, to go to the limits of what decency or propriety. To act so as just to
escape the letter or infringement of the law. To take a big risk.
O: from technical sense of sailing. To keep the vessel's head as near the quarter from which the wind is blowing
as possible, yet keep the sails filled. 19th.c. Proverb.
M: A drunk who staggers along the street out of control or his mind.
O: (1) A sheet is a rope attached to the clew of a sail used for trimming the sail. If the sheet is free it is said to be a
'sheet in the wind' (the colloquial expression is to be 'tipsy'). Therefore, to have three sheets in the wind is to be very
drunk.
(2) Three foresails head into the wind - therefore, a good thing?
Taboo: Never hang three sheets on a washing line - bad omen for those at sea.
HEAD TO WIND:
M: tough going ahead. Facing difficulties.
O: Trawling term of keeping the ship's bow toward the wind in order to ride out the storm and try to avoid being hit
broadside by the strong winds which might capsize the vessel.
O: A hungry fish which was stupid enough not just to take the baited hook, but the lead weight (sinker) and some
of the line. Angling / line fishermen.
HOOKED:
M: Currently = addicted to drugs. Formerly = a man was 'hooked' by a woman who wanted to marry him.
M: A person out of their usual environment who thus feels awkward. One who is restless because outside own
occupation.
O: ?
O: Angling.
A LEADING LIGHT:
M: ?
O: A navigation light used to guide a ship on safe passage into a port or harbour.
O: a colloquial adoption of the old legal phrase dating from 1536 in "Select Pleas in the Court of the Admiralty"
whereby a person/merchant promised to pay within so many days of the safe arrival of his ship.
O: ? 19th.c.Proverb.
SINK OR SWIM:
O: A neat alliterative expression which sounds as if it is nautical, but it definitely is not!! Indeed, it comes from the
period of the witch hunts when women were thrown into local rivers with their hands tied behind their backs (mostly after a
thorough beating) and if they floated they were a witch, but if they sank they were innocent....
LAND IN DEBT:
O: A Hull trawlerman could end a three-week voyage actually owing money to his trawler-baron boss if the
expense of the voyage exceeded the price of the fish landed on the quayside (perhaps due to a poor catch, a glut of fish
forced prices down on the fish market, or he had previously had a 'sub' from the firm in order to buy, from the Fish Dock
store, his Arctic winter clothing to work in the freezing conditions).
ON TENTERHOOKS:
Locally = the Scottish Herring Girls who travelled around the British coast from port to port 'tentered' herring onto
needle-sharp hooks on racks before the fish was hung in a tall smoke house during the production of kippers. I would love
to debate this issue with a historian of the cloth industry to see which industry began this practise first. But what is true is
that this phrase was employed in both industries and so enhanced the English language. I, therefore, claim it as a
maritime term.