Sailors slang

Learn the ropes: 10 common sayings that came straight from sailors

Life on ships was all about teamwork and facing the unknown. Sailors dealt with changing weather, rough waters, and threats that weren’t always easy to anticipate. Many phrases that still sound familiar today came out of that world, even though most of us don't use ropes or read the wind anymore. Even far from the ocean, these 10 expressions still describe everyday life.

Can you imagine what "true colors" meant in sailing slang? It was actually a direct reference to a ship’s flag. Back then, flags could show a ship’s country or empire, loyalty, or even surrender. But ships could also sail under false colors to deceive other ships and hide their real intentions. When those intentions were finally revealed, the ship showed its true colors.

That meaning is not far from the one we use today. Today, the expression is used when someone reveals their real feelings or intentions after keeping them hidden for some time.

We’ve all entered a new job or tried a new activity, and had to learn how the whole system works before taking the first steps. That is the moment you get to learn the ropes, before things start to flow naturally. And on a ship full of real ropes, sailors had to learn, one by one, which rope was for which function and where it belonged before starting to sail by themselves.

When the ship faced a dangerous or urgent situation at sea, everyone’s help was needed, and the call was simple: all hands on deck. In that phrase, "hands" meant the sailors or workers on board. It was a call for when the crew had to act quickly. The phrase keeps almost the same spirit these days. We use all hands on deck when a task is too big for one person, and everyone’s effort is required to get the job done.

Imagine standing on the shore and spotting a ship far out at sea, which isn’t close enough to arrive yet. That distant part of the sea was called the offing, so when a ship was in the offing, people knew it was on its way. The phrase made its way from ships to everyday life, and today, "in the offing" means something will happen soon, and you already see it coming.

When getting ready for difficult situations, we often say we’d better "batten down the hatches." Originally, the expression meant getting ready for rough weather. Sailors would close and secure the ship's hatch covers so water couldn’t get below deck. The word "batten" refers to strips used to fasten things down. Years had passed, and the meaning went from protecting a ship from bad weather to protecting yourself before any challenge.

Cannons were extremely heavy and mounted on wheeled carriages. If the heavy ropes or tackles securing them broke during a battle or a heavy storm, the cannon would become a "loose cannon," sliding and rolling violently across the gun deck, destroying everything and everyone in its path. That dangerous image stuck over the decades, and today, we use the phrase to refer to someone who is unpredictable or to a situation that is dangerously getting out of our control

In sailing, the sheets were the ropes or chains that controlled the sails, and when the sheets came loose, the sails could flap, and the boat would start to move in a messy, unsteady way. The comparison is easy to imagine: someone very drunk can stumble like a boat that can’t stay steady. Sailors already used that image for a person who was too drunk to walk straight, and to this day, there may be no better way to describe it.

Out at sea, "by_"_ meant sailing close to the wind, while "large" meant sailing with the wind coming more from behind or from the side. So, when a ship sailed well by and large, it was capable of handling different kinds of wind. Over the years, that idea became a way to express something in a broad sense; it is used when talking about something in general, describing the big picture without getting stuck in every small detail.

Currently, "taken aback" describes a shocking or unexpected situation, but back in the sailing days, it was all about the wind. It described the moment when the wind hit the sails from the wrong side and pushed back against the mast. Now, when people are taken aback, it's probably because they received unexpected news or were caught off guard, leaving them unsure how to react.

The phrase smooth sailing comes from the kind of trip every sailor wanted: calm water, good wind, and no major trouble ahead. When conditions were right, the ship could move forward easily. Today, the phrase works almost the same way, but outside the sea. People use it when situations become easier after a problem is fixed. A work project or a trip can become smooth sailing once the hardest part is over.

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Lost In Translation: 10 Words And Idioms Not To Be Taken Literally

Image: Thiébaud Faix

Many expressions and terms from foreign languages lose their essence in translation when uttered or written in English. Language is not merely a tool for communication; it encapsulates cultural nuances and unique experiences.

Join us as we dive into the intricacies of linguistic diversity, revealing the beauty and subtlety that can be lost when these foreign gems are transposed into the English lexicon.

Image: Jay Wennington

In the American culinary context, Entrée commonly refers to the main course of a meal. However, the true essence of the word in French translates to "entrance" or "entry," which refers to a first course or an appetizer.

English speakers may unknowingly miss the nuanced French understanding, but French tourists in America are probably already well aware of this situation before ordering food.

Image: Lance Lozano

Keeping on with the French language exploration, we come across the term En Masse, which, in its original language, means "in a mass". While English speakers commonly understand it as a collective gathering or action, the original French expression goes beyond mere numerical quantity, implying a unified, synchronized movement, emphasizing harmony and cohesion within a group.

Lost in translation, this nuance of orchestrated unity is often overshadowed by a simplistic focus on numbers when suggested by its English counterpart.

Image: Cibi Chakravarthi

Originally an abbreviation for Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning "aircraft defense cannon" in German, "Flak" in English has been repurposed to signify criticism or disapproval, particularly in informal contexts.

The shift from a military, technical term to a colloquial expression alters its essence, losing the gravity and historical context embedded in its German roots. This transformation not only obscures the connection to anti-aircraft weaponry but also dilutes the term's inherent seriousness, giving it a lighter meaning.

Image: Jan Tinneberg

When we take a deeper look into the linguistic intricacies between Japanese and English, we unravel the essence of the term sayonara and the nuances that evade an exact translation.

While commonly interpreted as a simple farewell, "sayonara" in Japanese carries a weight of finality and a sense of parting that transcends the casual connotations of the English "goodbye." Rooted in cultural context, this term signifies a more permanent departure, often linked to deep emotions or farewells of a more profound nature.

Image: Braden Collum

Élan is definitely not the most used French word amongst English speakers, but it does pop up occasionally in conversation. It makes this list because, while commonly translated as "enthusiasm" or "momentum" in English, élan in French encapsulates a more profound sense of spirited energy and impetus.

The original term carries a connotation of a dynamic force, an internal drive that propels action with ardor. Lost in translation, the subtleties of this emotional fervor are often diluted. "Élan" embodies a spirited passion, an inner zeal that goes beyond mere enthusiasm, and its unique cultural resonance can be overlooked when expressed in English.

Image: Manja Vitolic

If expressed literally, some foreign terms aren’t simply lost in translation but beyond translation. The Argentinean expression buscarle la quinta pata al gato, translates to "look for the cat's fifth leg". This curious expression, rich with cultural flavor, denotes the tendency to overcomplicate matters or seek unnecessary complications.

In its native Spanish, the phrase carries a humorous undertone, emphasizing the absurdity of searching for an extra leg on a cat. However, when translated into English, the idiom loses its playful charm and becomes a literal quest for a nonexistent appendage, missing the cultural context that infuses it with humor and insight.

Image: Markus Gjengaar

Literally meaning "like playing the piano to a cow," this Chinese idiom conveys the futility of explaining something to someone who lacks the capacity to comprehend or appreciate it.

The inherent humor and cultural resonance in the original Mandarin phrase may elude English speakers, as the idiom plays with the absurdity of attempting a futile task.

Image: Edward Cisneros

In the world of French Canadian expressions, the intriguing phrase chanter la pomme carries a cultural resonance often lost in translation. Literally translated as "to sing the apple," this idiom extends beyond its literal interpretation in English.

In its original context, the phrase conveys the act of sweet-talking or praising someone to gain favor or approval. The metaphorical association with singing to an apple adds a whimsical touch to the concept of flattery. Yet, when transposed into English, the idiom loses the playful imagery, and the cultural charm embedded in "chanter la pomme" may be overlooked.

Image: Adam Currie

The Finnish expression "letting a frog out your mouth" makes no sense when uttered in English, but it does have a logical explanation in its native tongue, where it means "to say something wrong by mistake which can embarrass or upset someone".

The metaphorical picture of releasing a frog adds a playful touch to the idea of articulating something inconvenient. However, when translated literally into English, the charm of the metaphor is lost, and the idiom's cultural richness escapes comprehension.

Image: Stefan Lehner

The Mexican phrase Si naciste para tamal, elote caerá del cielo, means "If you're born to be a tamale, the leaves will fall from the sky".

This idiom is a poetic way of expressing destiny and the idea that if something is meant to be, the universe will conspire to make it happen. The imagery of tamale-making, a cherished tradition in Mexican culture, adds a layer of metaphorical richness.

Image: Jamie Street

An idiom that makes no sense in English, the Italian phrase un cane in chiesa, meaning "a dog in a church," describes a sense of discomfort or feeling out of place in a particular situation.

The humor and vivid picture of a dog in a sacred space add a fun touch to the expression. However, when directly translated into English, the idiom loses its cultural connotations.

Image: Jamie Street

While the literal translation of "pouring water over someone's head" might seem senseless in English, the actual meaning in its original Tamil is "to cut off a relationship", which could very well be a logical outcome if someone pours water over somebody else's head.

Beyond the literal interpretation, this Tamil idiom carries a symbolic weight, signifying a moment of frustration or exasperation. The act of pouring water over someone's head becomes a vivid symbol of releasing pent-up emotions or expressing discontent. However, when rendered in English, the idiom loses its cultural depth, and the resonance of water as a cathartic release may not be fully grasped.