Deep-Six: Sink or Swim? 🗑️🌊
Definition:
“Deep-Six” means to abandon, reject, or otherwise get rid of something or someone. Originating from the mid-1900s naval slang, it referred to throwing items overboard, with ‘six’ alluding to a fathom’s depth (around six feet), a standard naval unit for measuring sea depth.
Related Terms, Similar Phrases, & Idioms:
- Jettison: Discard or throw away (especially from an aircraft or ship)
- Bury: Figuratively, to hide away or discard
- Dump: To throw away or dispose of
- Trash: To discard or get rid of
- Throw to the wolves: Abandon someone to a dangerous situation without help
- Give the heave-ho: To fire or dismiss someone
- Cut loose: To remove all constraints or obligations with something or someone
Synonyms:
- Discard
- Abandon
- Eject
- Eliminate
- Abandon
Antonyms:
- Retain
- Keep
- Salvage
- Rescue
- Preserve
Witty Humor:
💬 “Deep-six your ex but salvage the wine!” – Unknown
Proverbs & Wisdom:
- “Let your anchor hold in the storms of life,” but when all else fails, sometimes you just have to deep-six the baggage. 🌪️⚓
Literature and Pop Culture References:
- Books:
- Moby-Dick by Herman Melville – Classic naval lingo aplenty.
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne – Explore the depths.
- Movies:
- Titanic (1997) – Heart-wrenching saga set in the nautical realm.
- Cast Away (2000) – Ultimate ‘deep-six’ scenario, cast away on an uninhabited island.
- Songs:
- “Come Sail Away” by Styx – Embark on a musical yacht.
- “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid soundtrack – Dive deep into the oceanic musings.
- Poetry: “The Sea” by John Barryman, where nautical imagery elicits deeper thinking.
### What does "deep-six" mean?
- [x] To abandon, reject, or discard
- [ ] To dive deeply into studying something
- [ ] To bake six loaves of bread
- [ ] To fathom the depth of a poem
> **Explanation:** It means to abandon or discard something. Originally used in naval settings, it had serious implications – a veritable underwater farewell. 🧜♀️
### Which popular movie could invoke the expression "deep-six"?
- [ ] Megamind
- [x] Titanic
- [ ] Elf
- [ ] Shrek
> **Explanation:** *Titanic* could definitely invoke the "deep-six" due to its association with deep waters, disasters, and a significant loss. 🚢
### Identify the non-synonym of "deep-six":
- [ ] Discard
- [ ] Eject
- [x] Rescue
- [ ] Dump
> **Explanation:** While "discard," "eject," and "dump" suggest a form of abandonment, "rescue" clearly opposes the theme of discarding.
### True or False: "Deep-six" originated in the field of aviation.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. This evocative phrase sprang from nautical beginnings, not aviation.
### What unit of measurement is fundamental in the origin of "deep-six"?
- [ ] Meter
- [ ] Yard
- [ ] Kilometer
- [x] Fathom
> **Explanation:** A fathom, equivalent to six feet, is the naval measure that ground 'deep-six' into vocabulary.
Farewell Thought:
⚓ “In the vast sea of words, let curiosity be your compass and every overused phrase a buoy to new horizons. Keep exploring!”
🖋️ - W. T. Wittywords, October 2023
