Nautical Phrases in Everyday Use: Origins & Meanings

Nautical phrases are deeply embedded in everyday language, often used without a second thought. Many of these familiar expressions originated at sea centuries ago, born from the daily lives of sailors and the challenges of life aboard ship. Over time, they have sailed beyond the deck and into common speech. Below are some well-known nautical phrases still in everyday use today, along with the fascinating maritime stories behind them.

Faffing About

One of my favourites – often used when waiting for my (now adult but still slow!) children to get ready. At sea, a flaw was an unexpected gust of wind. When the wind blew fitfully, sailors said it was faffing about. Today, it means aimless behaviour or wasting time.

Windfall

Now used for an unexpected gain or advantage, a windfall originally described a sudden rush of wind coming down from a mountainous shore. These gusts, now recognised as katabatic winds, could fill a ship’s sails and push her safely away from danger.

Posh

Often used to describe someone from the upper-class. It’s thought to come from early 1900s passenger liners running between England and India. Wealthier passengers preferred shady cabins: Port Out, Starboard Home. Tickets supposedly bore the stamp P.O.S.H. – though this explanation remains debated.

Pull Your Finger Out

Said to mean get a move on! On old warships, before battle, gunpowder in the cannons was kept in place by a crew member’s finger covering the ignition hole. To pull your finger out meant the gun was ready to fire – time for action.

Swing the Lead

To swing the lead means to shirk work or feign illness. Before echo sounders, sailors measured depth by lowering a lead weight on a line. Once it hit bottom, the job was done — an easy task compared to other gruelling duties, so those swinging the lead gained a lazy reputation.

No Great Shakes

Used to describe something of little value. Wooden barrels were the main storage aboard ship. Once emptied, they were dismantled, and the strips of wood, called shakes, had little worth.

OK

The most universal of phrases, but with uncertain origins. Some claim it comes from the French au quai (“at the quay”), signalling a ship was docked safely. Others point to aux Cayes, a Haitian port famed for excellent rum. Either way, it’s a nautical expression that went global.

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