keep one’s nostrils on the grindstone In order to persist for the an unpleasant task; to help you work constantly, specifically during the tough, boring functions; in order to labor unceasingly; so you can drudge. The fresh allusion could very well be to help you laborers hanging over grindstones otherwise whetstones to sharpen tools made terrifically boring regarding lingering use. The definition of and you may variants, and that date off about 1532, to begin with designed to oppress someone else because of the exaction regarding labor.
continue a person’s pecker to continue one’s chin-up, to hold an individual’s head-high, to keep a person’s morale otherwise bravery up. Within British jargon term pecker means ‘morale, courage.’ It probably derives regarding the label pecker for good bird’s beak or statement. Cockfighting can often be quoted since the way to obtain the term, while the a gamecock’s pecker otherwise beak basins as he is fatigued and near overcome. Thus, the word actually means to maintain an individual’s beak (United kingdom jargon getting nostrils). It however can’t be complete as opposed to staying your face and you can chin-up too. The expression, which times from at the least 1853, is actually stopped in the us, where pecker features an entirely some other and you will vulgar jargon meaning.
complete a person’s tone for the mast To combat otherwise hold out before bitter-end; to help you won’t sacrifice, concede, otherwise surrender; in order to persist or are nevertheless firm, especially in see your face away from relatively daunting resistance. It offers for ages been nautical customized to own a ship to signify their nationality or allegiance from the traveling you to definitely nation’s color (i.e., flag) from its tallest mast. Into the battle, a chief you may code their give up or overcome by reducing the flag. Should your tone was in fact nailed into the mast, yet not, they could never be paid off, implying you to quit was not it is possible to.
Once they catch you during the drawback, the fresh mines for the life is the phrase, … and thus we struggle these with our colour nailed to the mast. (Sir Walter Scott, The fresh new Pirate, 1821)
praise the lord, and violation new ammunition Keep pace the latest struggle, you should never quit. It expression, even though barely used now, are the fresh new label off a popular tune during the The second world war. This has been related to Chaplain Howell Forgy, who was simply agreeable the fresh new cruiser The brand new Orleans during the Pearl Harbor during the japanese attack within the 1941. From inside the assault new chaplain assisted electricity a beneficial counterattack from the holding ammunition toward ship’s guns. They are purported to said the latest now famous terminology “Supplement the father, boys-and you may pass the ammo.”
adhere an individual’s firearms To face firm, so you’re able to persist within the a person’s attitude, conflict, otherwise beliefs; not to yield otherwise throw in the towel, to hang an individual’s ground.
Off armed forces origin, which terminology are originally to face to help you an individual’s weapon(s), definition practically to face from the a person’s firearm, to save attacking regardless of the.
for the most part From a total position; overall; generally; rather than entering details. The foundation regarding the words and its own most recent literal have fun with is actually both nautical. It indicates to sail into wind and somewhat off it, otherwise into the piece of cake close to the beam.
Therefore you will find the latest vessel handles inside the fair-weather and you will nasty, usually. (Samuel Sturmy, The newest Mariner’s Magazine, 1669)
Most of the time was applied figuratively as early as 1706 during the Edward Ward’s Solid wood Globe Dissected. New jump from literal to help you figurative have fun with is hard to follow along with. This procedure away from sailing may be shorter, a little while safe and simpler (this has shorter likelihood of being “astonished” than just cruising actually “of the cinch”)-in general, top fundamentally. It will be the top-notch getting better ‘for the whole’ otherwise ‘during the general’ (in the event a detailed investigation turned out if not) that’s moved to nonnautical facts.