Catch My Drift?

We have sailors to thank for some everyday phrases. Let’s chew the fat...

You’re either under the weather or have a clean bill of health. Or maybe you’re three sheets to the wind. We have sailors to thank for all of those phrases. Sheets are the nautical term for the ropes that control the sails – and if 3 are loose – you’re out of control. Here are some more salty sayings:

• Slush Fund: Clever cooks secretly stowed leftover fat and grease – or slush - from meals, then sold it to candle makers ashore.

• Filibuster: It’s how the English pronounced the Dutch word for the pirates who were successful at obstructing and blocking shipping trade.

• Chew the fat: Sailors had to rely on super tough salt-cured meat on board. It took so long to eat they would gather together to and chat to kill some chewing time.

Source: Sea Talk Nautical Dictionary