Walk the Plank
🌊 Definition
To be forced to die or to give up one’s position. The term refers to a form of execution favored by seventeenth-century pirates. A board was placed on the ship’s deck extending over the water, and the condemned was forced to walk off the end.
📜 Historical Usage
Thomas Macaulay used it in 1844: “It would have been necessary for Howe and Nelson to make every French sailor whom they took to walk the plank.”
Synonyms
- Kick the bucket: To die.
- Bite the dust: To die or to fail.
- Go out with a bang: To end something in a dramatic or noteworthy way.
- Take the long swim: To fall off (or be forced off) a ship and drown.
Antonyms
- Get a reprieve: To be given an extension or another chance.
- Live another day: Continue living or surviving.
- Save one’s bacon: Escape from danger or trouble.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “He was told to walk the plank, but being an overachiever, he took a flying leap!”
Proverbs
- “Every pirate must eventually meet their fate.”
Related Expressions
- Dead men tell no tales: The notion that those who die can no longer reveal secrets.
- Shiver me timbers: An expression of surprise or disbelief, supposedly uttered by pirates.
- Scuttlebutt: Gossip or rumors, originally referring to water-cooler talk on ships.
Literary References
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: A classic novel dripping with pirate lingo and high-seas adventure.
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Movie series): Full of swashbuckling action and an abundance of nautical clichés.
Songs
- “Yo Ho Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” from the Disney theme parks: This catchy tune captures the spirit of piracy.
Poetry
- “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Although not specifically about pirates, this poem contains a harrowing sea voyage.
### Which of these terms refers to a pirate's way of execution?
- [x] Walk the plank
- [ ] Sail off the edge
- [ ] Ride the rope
- [ ] Spin the wheel
> **Explanation:** "Walk the plank" is a term that specifically refers to a method of execution used by pirates, where the condemned walks off a board into the sea.
### Which phrase means to barely escape a dangerous situation?
- [ ] Take a dive
- [x] Save one’s bacon
- [ ] Jump ship
- [ ] Swim with the sharks
> **Explanation:** "Save one’s bacon" means to narrowly avoid danger or trouble.
### True or False: "Dead men tell no tales" is an idiom commonly associated with pirates.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True, "Dead men tell no tales" is a well-known pirate saying implying that once someone is dead, they can no longer share secrets.
### What does "shiver me timbers" express?
- [ ] Hunger
- [ ] Fear
- [x] Surprise
- [ ] Anger
> **Explanation:** "Shiver me timbers" is an exclamation of surprise or disbelief often attributed to pirates.
Farewell Thought
As we hoist the anchor and set sail from this chapter of clichés, remember: language is a treasure chest waiting to be discovered. Respect the relics, cherish the charm, and never be afraid to find your own words that sparkle like the brightest doubloons in the sea.
— Polly Parrotwords, 2023
