Sailing Expressions

With the weather changing a lot this year, I was noticing the wind really picking up out in front of the plant here at KHT, and thought to myself, “I better tell the guys to, “batten down the hatches.” Not being a big boater or sailor, it struck me that I thought of such an expression, and how my guys here knew exactly what I was talking about. Our inherited language is full of colorful expressions – many of which we use without giving a second thought to their origins. I did some digging and learned some come from the sea, others from the battlefield, and a few from the taverns and trades of old. Here’s a look at some fun, fascinating sayings, their meanings, and the history that floats behind them. There are many to choose from, so to be clear, I had to “sound the depths” (search for answers) and “chart a course” (to get you some proper answers and show the way), so “pipe down” (be quiet), “toe the line” (barefoot inspections) and “come about” (turn into the wind). Enjoy!

Learning the Ropes: Becoming familiar with how something works.

Sailors had to learn which rope (line) did what, and there were many, especially on the large sailing vessels of old. It was one of the first skills a new sailor had to master. We have quite a bit of “rope learning” here at KHT some operational, some cultural, some safety, and most importantly, the need for continuous excellence for our customers. “It’s her first week (month/year) on the job – and she’s still learning the ropes.”

Making Way: When a vessel is moving through the water under its own power. 

When a ship is “making way,” it’s actively moving, not just floating. This is important for steering and maneuvering. Fun fact: A ship can be “underway” without “making way” – like when it’s drifting or being carried by a current. We often use this expression when something finally gets started, such as: “The project is finally making way after weeks of delay.”

Three Sheets to the Wind: Very drunk or disoriented.
“Sheets” are the ropes that control sails (I thought they were the actual sails, as they look like sheets). If three sheets are loose and flapping, the sails luff, and the boat staggers like a drunk. The more sheets loose, the drunker the behavior! This is used in situations when someone overindulges, such as: “After his birthday party, he was three sheets to the wind.”

A Loose Cannon: An unpredictable or uncontrollable person.

In Naval warfare, cannons on ships were heavy and dangerous. If one broke free during battle, it could roll around and cause massive damage to the crew and vessel. In naval battles, cannons were typically held in place by a combination of gun carriages and breech ropes. Gun carriages provided a platform for the cannons, allowing them to be moved and aimed, and often included mechanisms to control recoil. Breech ropes, secured to the ship’s bulwarks (strong hull extensions), were used to stop the cannon from recoiling too far when fired (I need to get some breech ropes!) In use, commenting “He’s a loose cannon—you never know what he’ll say at meetings,” can be encouraged and also fraught with concern.

Batten Down the Hatches: Prepare for trouble or a storm.

In rough seas, sailors would cover the ship’s hatches (openings on the deck) with tarpaulins (fabric coverings) and secure them with wooden battens (wood strips to hold the material) to prevent water from getting in. In times of stress or impending danger, it’s a good saying, such as: “We’d better batten down the hatches—the weather is changing today.” (or “she’s in a mood”)

Passed with Flying Colors: To succeed brilliantly.

Naval and military ships returning from battle would hoist their flags (referred to as “colors”) high if they were victorious as a sign of success and pride (and not show the flag if in defeat). Here at KHT, we LOVE to fly our colors (and “crow from the rooftops”) when we solve one of your PIA (pain in the #%$) Jobs! We also love it when we complete an audit and can say, “We passed our audit with flying colors.” (and we love to fly our KHT flag out front too – we’re celebrating of 50th anniversary this year!)

At the Drop of a Hat: Instantly, without hesitation.

In 19th-century America, dropping a hat was a signal to begin a fight or a nautical race. It was the “go” signal – no delays, just action. It’s baked into our culture here, when a customer calls and is in quick need of a solution – we respond to your challenges “at the drop of a hat.”

Some fun sayings that are outside of the nautical space:

Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Reveal a secret – often accidentally.

Possibly from marketplaces in the Middle Ages. Dishonest vendors would sell a pig in a sack, but actually, put in a cat. If someone opened the bag – surprise! No pig, and a scam was revealed when the cat was set free. My grandkids are a blast when we tell them to keep a secret, and often
“Let the cat out of the bag about a surprise.”

The Whole Nine Yards: Everything possible, the full effort.

The meaning is a bit murky, but one popular theory is in WWII, fighter planes carried nine yards of machine gun ammo. Using all of it meant giving it your all. Here at KHT, we love it when our gang “gives it their all”. Not meant to go overboard, like “They went the whole nine yards on the wedding”, but to show real passion and effort.

Mind Your Ps and Qs: Watch your manners or behavior.

Theories vary. One fun theory comes from British pubs: bartenders had to track customers’ pints (Ps) and quarts (Qs). Another says it was a way to teach children proper penmanship—Ps and Qs are easily confused in cursive writing. It was used often with good behavior (I can still hear my Mom say it to me as I headed out the door) – “You’d better mind your Ps and Qs when we get to the party.”

If you have any favorites, send me an email and share at skowalski@khtheat.com.