Nautical_metaphors_in

Nautical metaphors in English

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Thanks to the historical importance of seafaring in British culture, the English language is rich in related metaphors from the age of sail. Some examples are:

Taken aback
Batten down the hatches
Clear the decks
Loaded to the gunwales
Back and fill
On one's beam ends
Awash
Nail one's colours to the mast
Flying the flag
Plain sailing
With flying colours
In the doldrums
All hands to the pumps
Take soundings
Weathering a storm
Swinging the lead
All set
Left high and dry
May the wind always be at your back and may you have following seas

In older days, one of the crew on the ship had a task of throwing a piece of lead tied to a string in water with the purpose of estimating the depth of the sea. Sailors used to get lazy or bored of doing this and playfully swing the lead bob to ease the time.And hence the term.

Generally used now to imply 'time wasting tactic'

"Son of a gun" may have referred to a boy born aboard ship during the age of sail-power. Although technically never allowed, women were not infrequently aboard British ships during at least of their voyages (these women included both wives and prostitutes). One theory holds that "son of a gun" was entered into the official log of the ship in cases of questionable or uncertain paternity. Another theory holds that the guns themselves occasionally aided in the birthing process by "kicking" the bulkhead against a woman's back. This theory holds that any boy born in such a manner was a son of a gun.
"All set" is derived from setting lobster traps, commonly used to denote a completed task.

Further reading