Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday

Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions

The origins of a remarkable number of everyday words and phrases are anchored in our seafaring past. Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions is an entertaining compilation revealing the maritime roots of common English expressions. The original â€œslush fundâ€ was the fatty scraps from boiled meat that the shipâ€™s cook secretly stashed away to sell at port to candle makers. The man who originally â€œturned a blind eyeâ€ was Admiral Nelson. In one of Naval historyâ€™s most famous acts of insubordination, Nelson, in the heat of battle, raised his telescope to his blind eye and announced he could not see the signal flag commanding him to break off action. The perfect companion for etymology lovers, factophiles, ocean dreamers, and the conversationally curious, Three Sheets to the Wind features 200 words and expressions that are nautically inspired. Alphabetically organized (from A to Sea) readers can also enjoy 100 original illustrations as well as relevant excerpts from the great novels of Melville, Forester, Oâ€™Brian, and others. These passages illustrate how such literary giants reached for these expressions in their classic masterpieces. Our everyday speech is peppered with language used by sailors when someone says they are â€œpoopedâ€ because they stayed to the â€œbitter endâ€ of â€œhappy hourâ€.

Country	USA
Brand	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Manufacturer	Lyons Press
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	1 Halftones, black and white; 101 Illust
ReleaseDate	2019-05-01
UnitCount	1
Format	Illustrated
EANs	9781493042272

Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions