When humans learned to master the ocean’s currents and the strength of the wind, the sailing industry was born. Since the first ships launched, seafarers created their own expansive vocabulary of nautical terms and phrases, many of which have found themselves in our everyday speech. 

Below are some common phrases with maritime origins. We use them so often; we’ve forgotten where they’ve come from. Read on to get schooled on nautical knowledge! 

• Feeling blue = experiencing feelings of sadness or melancholy. 
  Origin: If a captain or an officer of a ship died while at sea, the crew would fly blue flags and paint a blue band along the ship’s hull. Over time, this symbol of grieving was equated with feeling sad or melancholy. 

• To show one’s true colors = to reveal one’s character (usually in a negative way). 
  Origin: It was once common practice for ships to hoist their national flags before commencing battle. Some ships would carry flags from many countries and hoist “false flags” to confuse or mislead their enemies at sea, a practice that was especially common among Spanish ships in the 17^th century.  

• Close quarters = tightly packed (as in people in a small space). 
  Origin: Space was generally limited at sea prior to the 21^st century. As a result, the recreational quarters within which crew members would spend their free time and sleep were often cramped and crowded. 

• Through thick and thin = for better or for worse, no matter what happens. 
  Origin: This phrase comes from the method of using both thin and thick pulleys and ropes to hoist sails. 

• From stem to stern = the entirety of something. 
  Origin: This term refers to the full distance between the front of the ship and the back of the ship. 

• The bitter end = to say that one will continue doing something until it is finished, no matter what. 
  Origin: The end of an anchor cable is fastened to the bits at the ship’s bow. If all the anchor cable has been paid out, you have come to the bitter end. 

• Know the ropes = knowing how to complete a task or do a job. 
  Origin: There were miles and miles of cordage in the rigging of a square-rigged ship. The only way of keeping track of and knowing the function of all these lines was to know where they were located. It took an experienced seaman to know the ropes. 

• Keel over = fall over. 
  Origin: When a ship’s keel emerges from the water, the vessel will likely capsize. 

• Even keel = to be stable, balanced. 
  Origin: A ship’s keel is the backbone of the vessel running along the bottom of the hull, from stem to stern. The keel provides the ship’s balance and stability. 

• Squared away = to describe a matter that has been satisfactorily completed and/or addressed. 
  Origin: In a square-rigged naval vessel, the sails were described as “squared away” when properly trimmed, secured and arranged in the proper manner. 

• Turn a blind eye = to ignore, to pretend you didn’t see something. 
  Origin: This commonly used phrase originates from the actions of Admiral Lord Nelson in the Battle of Copenhagen. In the battle, a signal was given to cease fighting and retreat. In response, the Admiral held his spyglass to his blind eye and later insisted he had not seen the signal. 

Nautical Superstitions 

Sailors were very superstitious due to the constant dangers they faced. Some sailors wouldn’t leave the dock if they believed there was a bad omen or some danger lurking onboard. Thankfully, many of these superstitions have been debunked, but below are a few that landlubbers don’t know: 

• Female names for ships = While ships were named after women, women onboard ships were considered bad luck and believed to make the seas angry. Ironically, the figureheads on the bows of the ships were typically women, which were believed to “shame the stormy seas into calm” and the open eyes of the figureheads guided the sailors to safety. 

• “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning” = The variations on this saying come down to meteorological predictions dating back to biblical times. When the sky is red at sunset, high pressure and stable air are approaching from the west. By contrast, at dawn, red indicates approaching rain, and possibly stormy seas. 

• Watch your mouth = Some words and sayings brought about bad luck on board, including “drowned”, “goodbye” and “good luck.” Things to do with the land were believed to be bad luck if mentioned, such as the church, pigs, foxes, cats, and rabbits. Any sailor uttering these words would be warned to “watch their mouth.” 

Now, all that’s left is to board a vessel, sing an old sailor’s song and begin a voyage across the seven seas – but watch out for Davy Jones’ Locker!