Advanced English Idioms: Idioms with Sailing Origin. Part II.

      
     

  In the previous post we dealt with the following English idioms that have been developed from sailing: 
ON THE ROCKS
GIVE SMB / SMTH A WIDE BERTH
CUT AND RUN
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES
RUN A TIGHT SHIP
GO BY THE BOARD
WEATHER THE STORM

And here is the next set of idioms that come from sailing. 
 
MAKE GOOD HEADWAY - make good progress.

Russian equivalents: хорошо / успешно развиваться.

Ex.: They weathered the storm and are now making good headway.
       As the year has progressed our strengthening sales team has begun to make good headway.

IN THE OFFING - likely to happen in the near future.

 Russian equivalents: в ближайшем будущем, не за горами.

Ex.: There are some interesting plans for new projects in the offing.
        No such intervention is in the offing now.
       
BE TAKEN ABACK - be very surprised

 Russian equivalents: ошеломленный, захваченный врасплох.

Ex.: We were taken aback when Ben announced his resignation.
       Jamie's mother was taken aback by his decision to leave school.

LEAVE SMB HIGH AND DRY - put smb. in a difficult situation which they can't improve.


Russian equivalents: поставить в затруднительное положение.

Ex. All my workers quit and left me high and dry.  
      All the children ran away and left Billy high and dry to take the blame for the broken window.

TAKE THE WIND OUT OF SMB'S SAILS - make smb feel less confident by saying or doing smth unexpected

 Russian equivalents: убавить спеси, отбить желание, выбить почву из под ног, подрезать крылья.

Ex.: Sally was keen to become an actor, but her teacher's criticism of her performance took the  
       wind out of her sails.
        Learning that one has been totally wrong about something can really take the wind out of one's 
        sails.

IN THE WAKE OF SMB / SMTH - following closely behind

 Russian equivalents: в кильватере, вслед за, в результате, по пятам, по следам.

Ex.: We had no place to live in the wake of the fire.
        The consultant  strode through the hospital, several students in his wake.

ALL HANDS ON DECK -  everyone must help.
 
 Russian equivalents: аврал, свистать всех на верх.

Ex.: We'll need all hands on deck if we're going to be ready for the conference in time.
         We've got to get all this cleared up before they arrive so it's all hands on deck.

ANY PORT IN A STORM - You must accept any help you're offered when you are in a difficult situation.

  Russian equivalents: в бурю любая гавань хороша, выбирать не приходится, на безрыбье и рак рыба.

Ex.: I don't want to live with my parents, but I have no other choice. Any port in a storm, I'm afraid. 
       I hate my job, but I can't get another. Any port in a storm, you know.



Sources:
1. F. O'Dell, M. McCarthy. English Idioms in Use. Advanced.
2. Free Dictionary by Farlex.
3. The British National Corpus.

Advanced English Idioms: Idioms with Sailing Origin. Part I.

In the English language there are quite a lot of idioms that have originated from sailing. It can be accounted for by the fact that Britain is an island nation with the sea playing a major role in its history, economy and culture.

Here are some of the idioms that have been developed from sailing.

ON THE ROCKS - in serious difficulty

Russian equivalents: в бедственном положении, на краю гибели, на грани развала.

Ex.: The business we had taken over three years ago was on the rocks.
        Our relationship has been on the rocks for some time.

TO GIVE SMTH / SMB A WIDE BERTH - to avoid

Russian equivalents: избегать, держаться подальше, обходить стороной, обходить за версту, не подходить на пушечный выстрел.

Ex.: I try to give the city centre a wide berth if I possibly can, especially on Saturdays. 
       The economy was doing badly and visitors gave luxury restaurants a wide berth.

TO CUT AND RUN - to avoid a difficult situation by leaving suddenly.

Russian equivalents: отступиться, все бросить и сбежать.

Ex.: The business is doing so badly that I'm tempted to cut and run.
       The question remains open whether I'll go on enduring the sufferings of my position or cut and run, somewhere, somehow.

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES - get ready for a difficult situation by preparing in every possible ways.

 Russian equivalents: задраивать люки, готовиться к неприятностям.

Ex.: There's trouble ahead, so we'd better batten down the hatches.
        As far as road races are concerned we are having to financially batten down the hatches this year
       and all events will be self-financing.

RUN A TIGHT SHIP - control a business or organisation firmly and efficiently.
 
 Russian equivalents: установить железную дисциплину, навести строгий порядок, заставлять ходить по струнке.

Ex.: We run a tight ship, but a fair one.
       

GO BY THE BOARD - be abandoned

Russian equivalents: отступать на задний план, быть отброшенным.

Ex.: Amy's plans to buy a new car went by the board when she lost her job.
      Rules go by the board in cases of absolute necessity.

WEATHER THE STORM - survive difficult times.

Russian equivalents: пережить трудные времена, перекантоваться. 

Ex.: I know it's been hard for you, but I'm sure you'll weather the storm.
       The automation helped the company weather the storm slightly better than some of its rivals.



  Sources:
1. F. O'Dell, M. McCarthy. English Idioms in Use. Advanced.
2. Free Dictionary by Farlex.
3. The British National Corpus.