Nautical phrases, sayings and terms
Nautical phrases, sayings and sailing terms with their meaning.
The sailors jargon buster
Have you ever wondered where some of our everyday phrases and sayings come from and what they mean? There are hundreds in common use in UK and around the world and we have been looking high and low to find them and their meaning. Here are 424 of them where we have cracked the sailors jargon for you. Enjoy!
What does "A clean slate" mean?
Today it means: Start again, a new beginning.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A clean slateBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A clean sweep" mean?
Today it means: Start again, everything re-newed.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A clean sweepBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A cock up" mean?
Today it means: Made a mess of things. Mistake.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A cock upBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A fathom" mean?
Meaning: A fathom is 6 feet.
More about: A fathomBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "A lash up" mean?
Today it means: A bad job, disorganised, rushed task, poorly done.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A lash upBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A leading light" mean?
Today it means: A well respected person or someone really good at what they do.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A leading lightBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What is "A nautical mile" ?
Meaning: A nautical mile is one minute of latitude.
More about: A nautical mileBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "A powder monkey" mean?
Today it means: A boy in the Navy used to carry gunpowder to the guns
Nautical origin of the phrase: A powder monkeyBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A shot across the bows" mean?
Today it means: A warning or a shot not intended to hit its target.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A shot across the bowsBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A square meal" mean?
Today it means: A good nutritional meal
Nautical origin of the phrase: A square mealBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "A.1." mean?
Today it means: Highest quality, the best.
Nautical origin of the phrase: A.1.By:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Abaft" mean?
Meaning: Abaft simply means behind.
More about: AbaftBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "Abaft the beam" mean?
Meaning: Behind the centre point (beam) of the boat.
More about: Abaft the beamBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "Abeam" mean?
Meaning: At right angles to your boat.
More about: AbeamBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "Above board" mean?
Today it means: Honest, legal, not hidden, out in the open
Nautical origin of the phrase: Above boardBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "All at sea" mean?
Today it means: Confused, muddled or dis-orderly
Nautical origin of the phrase: All at seaBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "All sewn up" mean?
Today it means: A task is completed
Nautical origin of the phrase: All sewn upBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Aloof" mean?
Today it means: Stands apart, better than others.
Nautical origin of the phrase: AloofBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Anchors aweigh" mean?
Today it means: The achor is lifting and no longer working.
Nautical origin of the phrase: Anchors aweighBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Apparent wind" mean?
Meaning: True wind modified by your boats movement equals apparent wind.
More about: Apparent windBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "As the crow flies" mean?
Today it means: In a straight line, most direct route
Nautical origin of the phrase: As the crow fliesBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Astern" mean?
Meaning: Behind or moving backwards.
More about: AsternBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "At a loose end" mean?
Today it means: Nothing to do, no plans, bored.
Nautical origin of the phrase: At a loose endBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "At a low ebb" mean?
Today it means: Not feeling good, feeling empty.
Nautical origin of the phrase: At a low ebbBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "At a rate of knots" mean?
Today it means: Doing something at speed
Nautical origin of the phrase: At a rate of knotsBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
What does "Athwartships" mean?
Meaning: At right angles to the centreline of a ship.
More about: AthwartshipsBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "Backing" mean?
Meaning: To stop a sail working or a change of wind direction.
More about: BackingBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What is "Backstay" ?
Meaning: Stay supporting the mast from aft.
More about: BackstayBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What is "Ballast" ?
Meaning: Weight used to add stability.
More about: BallastBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Sailing Terms
What does "Bamboozle" mean?
Today it means: Confuse, mis-lead, decieve.
Nautical origin of the phrase: BamboozleBy:
SailingQuiz
Category:Nautical Saying
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