Famous Expressions that came from Sailing.....

[Salty Dog]

Skyscraper:

This word is most commonly used to describe a tall building. The word originates from the term for a small, triangular shaped sail that was set above the other sails on the old square-rigged vessels. They were so tall they seemed to scrape the sky.

[Salty Dog]

Snub:

This means to suddenly stop or secure a line. The word is used today in the expression 'To snub someone' meaning to cut someone off or intentionally ignore him or her.

[Salty Dog]

Sound off:

This expression comes from the practice of sailors 'sounding off' or shouting the number of fathoms as noted when sounding the depth in unknown water. Today the expression is used when voicing one's opinion.

[Pirate]

[Salty Dog]

Spin a Yarn:

Today, this expression means to tell a story, much of which may be out of fantasy. The expression originated from the stories sailors would tell while making spun-yarn or doing other repetitious chores.

[Salty Dog]

Sponge:

This is a word used to refer to someone who 'uses' others for example by borrowing money with no intent to repay the debt. The term comes from the detention area for debtor's that was called the sponge.

[Salty Dog]

Stand off:

This is an expression which means to maintain a course away from shore. The term is now also used synonymously with to be aloof, evade or remain at a distance.

[Salty Dog]

Stay on an even keel:

This is a term to indicate that a vessel has no lean or tilt towards either side. The expression is often used to reference something or someone in a state of stability and balance.

[Salty Dog]

•Stem the tide:

An expression originally used to mean that a ship was sailing against the tide fast enough to make headway over the ground or to move faster than the tide in the opposite direction. Today the expression means to stop, slow, or prevent an event.

[Salty Dog]

Stick in the mud:

This expression was originally used to refer to someone of no consequence, such as a pirate or mutineer, which came from the old English practice of burying executed criminal seamen in the mud of the Thames river. Today the expression is used to mean someone not likely to be persuaded or change.

[Salty Dog]

Stranded:

This word was originally used to describe a vessel that has been driven aground during a storm. Today stranded is synonymous with stuck, marooned or abandoned.

[Salty Dog]

I bet this one will draw a few dissenting voices!!!

Swashbuckler:

Swashbuckler has become synonymous with adventurer, explorer or traveler. The word originated in the 1500's, and was used to refer to below average swordsman.

[Salty Dog]

Take someone down a peg or two:

This expression comes from the fact that the flags of old sailing vessels were raised or lowered using pegs. To lower a flag meant to surrender. Today the expression is still used to mean to deflate someone's ego or lower someone's status.

[Salty Dog]

Take the wind out of his sails:

Today this expression means to stop someone's forward momentum in some venture or to 'bring someone back down to reality'. The term comes from literally taking the wind out of someone's sails by sailing upwind or to windward, causing the other vessels to slow or stop.

[Salty Dog]

Taking the wrong tack:

This was originally a nautical term for a sailing vessel which is sailing a bit too close to the wind for that particular tack. The expression is also used to reference someone approaching a task or problem from the wrong direction or continuing to go off in the wrong direction.