The English language draws from many different influences: Latin, Greek, Spanish, German, French, Gaelic...  Colorful vocabulary and turns-of-phrase find their way into mainstream speech from unusual sources.

A surprising number of expressions come from sailing tradition. They've somehow been disconnected from their original context and have come to mean something else entirely.

Today, two Clearwater crew members shed some light on phrases you probably didn't know came from sailing the high seas.

 

Photo: Julie Edwards