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In Part II of his series, LEUT Aaron Matzkows examines some of the
naval expressions that have made it into everyday language.
No room to swing a cat: This term is usually associated with the cat o’nine
tails, but it is believed the expression is in fact older than the punishment.
One theory is that it came from the days when by law, English and Welsh
peasants were required by law to practice archery. A stray cat in a bag
was allegedly used as the target. There wouldn’t have been much room
in the bag to swing the unfortunate feline.
To sink or swim: Few sailors way back then, let alone normal landlubbers,
could swim and bulky clothing was a further hindrance to staying alive
if you ended up in the drink.
To swim against the stream, to pour oil on troubled waters: Today, this
expression usually means to quieten down a quarrel or a stormy argument,
but rough, stormy waters can be smoothed at least a little by pouring
oil on the sea around one’s boat. The practice is ancient and the
Romans Pliny and Plutarch in the first century AD both mentioned it in
writings which survive to this day. In AD95, Plutarch wrote: “Why
does pouring oil on the sea make it still and calm? Is it because the
winds, slipping over the smooth oil, have no force, nor cause any waves?”
To go by the board: Taken as meaning something or some idea now out of
fashion or out of use, even completely lost, the Navy gave English this
expression through the old meaning of “board” as the side of
a ship (thus overboard). Something which went by the board had not only
fallen into the sea, but the ship had passed it by and it was gone forever.
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