Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions

by Cynthia Barrett

The origins of a remarkable number of everyday words and phrases are anchored in our seafaring past. Three Sheets to the The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions is an entertaining compilation revealing the maritime roots of common English expressions. The original “slush fund” was the fatty scraps from boiled meat that the ship’s cook secretly stashed away to sell at port to candle makers. The man who originally “turned a blind eye” was Admiral Nelson. In one of Naval history’s most famous acts of insubordination, Nelson, in the heat of battle, raised his telescope to his blind eye and announced he could not see the signal flag commanding him to break off action. The perfect companion for etymology lovers, factophiles, ocean dreamers, and the conversationally curious, Three Sheets to the Wind features 200 words and expressions that are nautically inspired. Alphabetically organized (from A to Sea) readers can also enjoy 100 original illustrations as well as relevant excerpts from the great novels of Melville, Forester, O’Brian, and others. These passages illustrate how such literary giants reached for these expressions in their classic masterpieces. Our everyday speech is peppered with language used by sailors when someone says they are “pooped” because they stayed to the “bitter end” of “happy hour”.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Sheets to the Wind: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions by Cynthia Barrett was an entertaining read.

Cynthia Barrett comes from generations of seafaring men, her grandfather a whaler and her father a Navy man. In her attractive, illustrated volume she offers the entomology of phrases and terms that are rooted in maritime activities.

Presented in alphabetical order, each phrase includes an explanation of its origin and contemporary use, illustrated with excerpts from literature ranging from Homer to Melville to Patrick O'Brian.

I was a girl when I discovered Joan Lowell's pseudo-biography of a girl's life growing up on a sailing ship, Cradle of the Deep, and ever since I have enjoyed reading books about the age of sail, including the Nordoff and Hall Bounty books and Forester's Horatio Hornblower books. So, I was familiar with the original meanings of many of the terms, but others were a revelation.

When Archie Bunker called Edith a "dingbat" who knew a dingbat was slang for a deck mop made of used rope ends which would fly about uncontrollably while in use?

Speaking of old rope, the ends had to be repaired and spliced during times of calm, the sailors so employed being said to be "at loose ends."

I remember when blue jeans were called dungarees. Dungri is a Hindi word for cotton cloth. The first sailor's pants were made of old sails. Later, blue serge bell bottom pants were invented to make rolling up the pants legs easier for sailors employed at swapping the deck. When I was a teen bell bottom jeans were the rage.

A sailor from Belgium stowed his duds in a bag called a Duffle after the rough woolen cloth they used to make the sailor's clothing.

200 words and expressions are covered, and I am sure many will be surprised to learn the origin of sayings we still employ today.

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was kind of a hoot! I'm amazed at how much of our everyday words come from these salty sailors! I use a lot of it constantly. I have arthritis, and when it gets bad I tend to grab onto my hip. I call it listing to the starboard side! I've always thought that if there is such a thing as past lives, then I must have been a sailor. My favorite thing from this book? Yeah, that would be a cup of Joe! I won't tell you here, but it was funny how this saying came about! My thanks to Cynthia Barrett, and Netgalley for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, fun, and very informative little book. Like everyone else I was astonished at how many ordinary words and phrases had seafaring origins! Definitely recommended if you're a fan of language and/or all things nautical.

I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, Three Sheets to the Wind by Cynthia Barrett. It is now a coffee table book at my lake house. Guests never fail to remark about this book. Everyone is surprised by the numbers of everyday expressions that have a nautical background.

One of my favorites is posh. This little word of luxury came about when wealthy Europeans where traveling to and from the Orient by ship. Without air conditioning a ship quickly got hot and stuffy. Therefore, wealthy individuals would select the more expensive cabins that did not get the sun on the port side of the ship when travel to their destination and starboard side traveling back home. Thus the acronym P.O.S.H. standing for portside out, starboard side home.

There are lots of out terms that are just as interesting, too many to mention them all. Each term has the origin, the modern definition and an illustration from literature. In summary, this little gem of a book is quirky, funny, educational and thoroughly entertaining!

If you are fascinated by the origins of our language or are a sailing/nautical enthusiasts this is the book for you. Maybe you are a book nerd like me, then you too will enjoy. It has started many a wordy conversation in my house.

Thanks to the author for my free copy. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.thespineview.com.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars. I usually love this kind of book as I like learning where sayings and idioms come from. I found sometimes she was a little light on how the saying originated and at times I did not need how she explained the use of the saying today.

[Tom]

A small dictionary of nautical etymology I bought on a whim in Nantucket. As this book was essentially just a listing of nautical phrase definitions and examples, it was a little tough to grapple with the doldrums of this book’s repetitive and simplistic nature. All the same, even if it won’t become a mainstay in my library, it still wasn’t a bad way to learn the ropes of seafaring terms that can sometimes be a little hard to fathom.

Even if I didn’t exactly love the cut of this book’s jib, and at times questioned whether everything was above board, it never fully hit rock bottom. I wouldn’t exactly give an “all hands on deck” recommendation, but I’ll give it a little leeway. I mean, not to go too overboard with it, but I expect a book like this to run a pretty tight ship, so I’m ok with taking it down a peg.

Overall, I don’t wanna be a loose cannon and take the wind out of your sails, but I’d say it’s ok to miss the boat on this one.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you're a language geek, Jeopardy hopeful, a writer, collecting conversation starters for boring parties, or just curious, what fun this book is! Betcha thought the "sheets" were the sails. NOT. I don't sail, don't like boats, don't swim, don't even like water, but this book was filled with such fun, quirky, informative, surprising tidbits, I couldn't resist reading it in one sitting.

[Steph Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! It is full of interesting words we use that I would have never guessed came from sailors and ships. There was a lot of humor and some scandalous association to common phrases. I highly recommend it.

[Waffle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is clearly aimed at a younger demographichic though its a good read if you are interested in learning about terms or naval history. Its not an in depth look infact its rather shallow but still an interesting read.

[James B. Friderici · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives the origin of many nautical terms. Although I am familiar with almost all the terms, I did not know why many of them came from.

It is worthwhile reading for even an experienced sailor.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spotted this book on a shelf at the library and thought, this should be fun to read. I wasn’t disappointed, it’s great for random information on origins of most terms and expressions used today derived from sailing. I most enjoyed reading the meaning of the word posh and ‘cup of Joe.’ As my mother would suggest, it’s a great bathroom book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have quite a nautical background as both a Naval Officer and Merchant Marine Engineering officer so I found this book quite enjoyable.

[Christopher Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some errors, a lack of etymology/supporting info, poor editing, and some clunky writing, but a fun book.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little book! I bought this In Nantucket from Mitchell’s Bookstore!

[Athena Beanbowl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good time. I'm baffled there are so many terms and sayings with etymological roots in maritime. Love it. Also, I didn't expect this book to be illustrated in comics. Just great.

[James Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting. I never knew that so many everyday idioms had nautical origins

[Giovanna Pizzoferrato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun concept, poorly executed. They fumbled it, could’ve been a much cooler book!