To weigh anchor
Meaning
To prepare a ship for departure by lifting its anchor from the seabed, often used metaphorically for embarking on a new venture.
Origin
To "weigh anchor" transports us back to the age of sail, when a ship's entire journey hinged on this pivotal action. The word "weigh" here isn't about measuring mass, but derives from an Old English term meaning "to lift" or "to heave." Imagine the rhythmic grunt of sailors hauling on the capstan, slowly raising the heavy iron anchor from the murky seabed. This arduous task, signaling the imminent departure and the start of a new adventure across the vast, unpredictable ocean, became the definitive moment a ship shed its moorings and embraced the open sea, cementing the phrase's place in both literal and metaphorical journeys.
Examples
- After a week in port, the captain gave the order to weigh anchor at dawn, eager to catch the tide.
- With all the preparations complete, it was time for the team to weigh anchor and launch their ambitious new project.