Sound Like a Sailor: The Book of Nautical Expressions

A dictionary of terms and phrases with nautical origins.

Lifelong sailor Bruce Macdonald knows a thing or two about the language of the sea and, in Sound Like a Sailor, he catalogues nautical terms and idioms that are used in the common vernacular. Delving deep into the colourful history behind each word or phrase, this alphabetical reference will help readers understand the maritime origins of our most ubiquitous expressions.

Discover how minding your p’s and q’s originates in how bartenders kept track of pints and quarts on sailors’ tabs, how “going berserk” calls up images of shirtless Vikings, and how the word “footloose” originally referred to an untethered sail flapping around like Kevin Bacon’s legs. And, as any superstitious sailor knows, it’s best to “cheat the devil” by having an arsenal of euphemisms at the ready when needed, as cursing is said to invite trouble aboard.

An essential book for boating enthusiasts and language buffs alike, Sound Like a Sailor is a windfall of fascinating linguistic information.

© 2025 Harbour Publishing (Ebook): 9781998526246

Release date

Ebook: 19 August 2025