Heavy Weather

[tel]

Hi....Listening to the news, you would swear we were still in the days of tall ships. In the financial markets, we are in heavy weather. We are battening the hatches for the coming financial storm. We are trimming our cloth to suit the conditions. It goes on, but you get the idea. It's interesting that nautical terminology from days of yore is still spliced heavily into modern metaphor. It's the same with military terminology - we are bringing our guns to bear and so forth.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by tel

Hi....Listening to the news, you would swear we were still in the days of tall ships. In the financial markets, we are in heavy weather. We are battening the hatches for the coming financial storm. We are trimming our cloth to suit the conditions. It goes on, but you get the idea. It's interesting that nautical terminology from days of yore is still spliced heavily into modern metaphor. It's the same with military terminology - we are bringing our guns to bear and so forth.

By and large, I am taken aback. But in the offing, there is a devil to pay.

[Nausikaa]

Avast there - I don't want to know wherethe expression "Heads up" comes from!

But for now I will just clew up. splice the main brace and get six sheets to the wind whilst trying to fathom it out, although it may well leave me high and dry.

It is hardly surprising really that the English language, more than any other I kno or know of, is so rich in nautical expressions given the history of Britain is dominated by 400 relatively recent years of maritime power, both in a naval and commercial sense. In my opinion, as long as it is not overdone, it adds charm and character to the language.

Aye // Stephen