By Larry Billinger
The other day at work, someone mentioned “showing someone the ropes,” sparking a curiosity about where that term originated. Sailors are known for their colorful language, but it was quite a revelation when another coworker researched all the phrases that came from sailing. Now, hailing from the heart of the USA in Kansas, there isn’t a robust sailing or boating culture here. My only sailing experience was a few days on Lake Texoma, which felt more like camping on water in a floating RV. Fortunately, I don’t get seasick, but like any boating activity, it seemed like a constant effort not to sink the vessel. But beyond some salty language, sailors have blessed our wonderful language with numerous other phrases. Here are some nautical terms that have floated into everyday use, enriched with history and lore.
A Sea of Expressions
A Square Meal
Originating from the square wooden platters used to serve warm meals to crews in good weather, “a square meal” now symbolizes a substantial and satisfying meal regardless of the setting.
Above Board
Initially referring to anything on or above the open deck, this phrase has come to mean anything open and in plain view, suggesting honesty or legality.
As the Crow Flies
An ingenious method of navigation involved releasing a caged crow when lost. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land, providing a navigational fix. This term now refers to the most direct path between two points.
Bear Down
To “bear down” was to sail downwind rapidly toward another ship or landmark. Today, it implies making a firm advance toward an objective.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Referring to a particularly dangerous spot on deck, this phrase now describes any precarious situation between two hazards.
By and Large
Sailing “by” (into the wind) and “large” (with the wind) meant the ship handled well. Now, it broadly means “in general.”
Chock-a-block
Originally describing two blocks of rigging tackle so tightly secured that they could be tightened no further, it now describes anything packed or filled to capacity.
Cut and Run
In the past, a smaller ship might cut the lashings on all sails to swiftly escape a larger enemy vessel. Today, it means to hastily depart from a difficult situation.
Dressing Down
Originally referring to the refurbishing of old sails with oil or wax, this term now means a stern reprimand or scolding.
First Rate
Denoting the highest standard, as ships with over 100 guns were of the highest quality and capability.
Fly-by-Night
Referring to a large, easily handled sail used for steady winds, now implies something set up temporarily or hastily.
Footloose
The bottom portion of a sail is called the foot. If it is not secured, it is footloose and it dances randomly in the wind. Metaphorically, it now means to be carefree.
Garbled
From the prohibited practice of mixing rubbish with the cargo, now means distorted or scrambled communication.
Give (someone) a Wide Berth
Refers to anchoring a ship far from another to avoid collision, now means to steer clear of something or someone.
Groggy
Originating from Admiral Vernon’s order to dilute sailors’ rum with water, the term now refers to feeling dazed or weak.
Leeway
The sideways drift of a ship downwind from the desired course, now refers to margin or flexibility in a plan.
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
From the act of revealing the cat-o’-nine-tails for punishment aboard ship, now means to reveal a secret.
Overbearing
To sail downwind directly at another ship thus “stealing” or diverting the wind from his sails, now used to describe someone domineering or oppressive.
Overhaul
To prevent the buntline ropes from chaffing the sails, crew were sent aloft to haul them over the sails. This was called overhauling, now means to take apart and repair.
Overreach
If a ship holds a tack course too long, it has overreached its turning point and the distance it must travel to reach it’s next tack point is increased, now means to overextend oneself beyond capabilities.
Overwhelm
Old English for capsize or founder, now means to be overpowered by emotion or workload.
Pipe Down
Means stop talking and be quiet. The Pipe Down was the last signal from the Bosun’s pipe each day which meant “lights out” and “silence”.
Pooped
The poop is the stern section of a ship. To be pooped is to be swamped by a high, following sea, now refers to being extremely tired.
Rummage Sale
From the French “arrimage” meaning ship’s cargo. Damaged cargo was sold at a rummage sale, now refers to a sale of miscellaneous used goods.
Scuttlebutt
A butt was a barrel. Scuttle meant to chop a hole in something. The scuttlebutt was a water barrel with a hole cut into it so that sailors could reach in and dip out drinking water. The scuttlebutt was the place where the ship’s gossip was exchanged, now refers to rumors or gossip.
Skyscraper
A small triangular sail set above the skysail in order to maximize effect in a light wind, now refers to a very tall building.
Slush Fund
A slushy slurry of fat was obtained by boiling or scraping the empty salted meat storage barrels. This stuff called “slush” was often sold ashore by the ship’s cook for the benefit of himself or the crew. The money so derived became known as a slush fund, now used to describe a reserve of money used for illicit purposes.
Son of a Gun
When in port, and with the crew restricted to the ship for any extended period of time, wives and ladies of easy virtue often were allowed to live aboard along with the crew. Infrequently, but not uncommonly, children were born aboard, and a convenient place for this was between guns on the gun deck. If the child’s father was unknown, they were entered in the ship’s log as “son of a gun”, now refers to a person, especially a man, or thing regarded as outstanding or excellent.
Start Over with a Clean Slate
A slate tablet was kept near the helm on which the watch keeper would record the speeds, distances, headings and tacks during the watch. If there were no problems during the watch, the slate would be wiped clean so that the new watch could start over with a clean slate, now means to start again with a fresh approach, disregarding past actions.
Taken Aback
A dangerous situation where the wind is on the wrong side of the sails pressing them back against the mast and forcing the ship astern. Most often this was caused by an inattentive helmsman who had allowed the ship to head up into the wind, now means to be taken by surprise.
Taking the wind out of his sails
Sailing in a manner so as to steal or divert wind from another ship’s sails, now used to describe gaining an advantage over someone typically through superior wit or ingenuity.
The Bitter End
The end of an anchor cable is fastened to the bitts at the ship’s bow. If all of the anchor cable has been payed out you have come to the bitter end, now used to describe continuing something to the end, no matter how difficult.
The Devil to Pay
To pay the deck seams meant to seal them with tar. The devil seam was the most difficult to pay because it was curved and intersected with the straight deck planking. Some sources define the “devil” as the below-the-waterline-seam between the keel and the adjoining planking. Paying the Devil was considered to be a most difficult and unpleasant task, now often used to describe a daunting task expected to bring about suffering.
Three Sheets to the Wind
A sheet is a rope line which controls the tension on the downwind side of a square sail. If, on a three masted fully rigged ship, the sheets of the three lower course sails are loose, the sails will flap and flutter and are said to be “in the wind”. A ship in this condition would stagger and wander aimlessly downwind, now refers to a state of intoxication.
To Know the Ropes
There was miles and miles of cordage in the rigging of a square rigged ship. The only way of keeping track of and knowing the function of all of these lines was to know where they were located. It took an experienced seaman to know the ropes, now means to be knowledgeable or proficient in one’s dealings or operations.
Toe the Line
When called to line up at attention, the ship’s crew would form up with their toes touching a seam in the deck planking, now means to conform to a standard or authority, often unquestioningly.
Touch and Go
This referred to a ship’s keel touching the bottom and getting right off again, now used to describe a risky or precarious situation.
Under the Weather
If a crewman is standing watch on the weather side of the bow, he will be subject to the constant beating of the sea and the ocean spray. He will be under the weather, now used to describe feeling ill or unwell.
Windfall
A sudden unexpected rush of wind from a mountainous shore which allowed a ship more leeway, now used to describe an unexpected gain or piece of good fortune.
Conclusion of the Article
As we’ve navigated through the rich sea of nautical phrases, it’s clear that the language of sailors has profoundly anchored itself in everyday English. Each term, from “showing the ropes” to “three sheets to the wind,” carries with it a story of life at sea—a life of adventure, peril, and necessity that has transcended its origins to find a place in our everyday conversations.
Understanding these phrases not only enriches our vocabulary but also connects us to a maritime heritage that shaped many aspects of the modern world. So the next time you find yourself “pushing the boat out” or hoping not to be “taken aback” by life’s surprises, remember the sailors who braved the uncharted waters and left us a legacy rich with expressions as enduring as the ocean itself.
This linguistic voyage shows how the language of a specific group can spread its sails into the broader horizon of general speech, reminding us that our words are as interconnected as the seas once navigated by those who coined them.
