anchor

anchor-clanker

slang A sailor. The bar was packed with old anchor-clankers sharing stories of their adventures from around the world. Only anchor-clankers hang out on the pier these days. Families stick to the boardwalk and teens to the beach. You only know Grandpa as an old man, but he was an anchor-clanker back in the day.

at anchor

The state a ship is in when it has dropped its anchor. We're going to stay at anchor for a few days so we can really enjoy the beach. Men, the ship is at anchor, so it's time to move out! Thank goodness the ship is at anchor—we can finally get a break now!

See also: anchor

be anchored in (something)

To be rooted in or otherwise deeply connected to something; to have something as a foundation. I can't watch the news—it's too anchored in fearmongering. Susan's life is anchored in an unwavering hope and optimism that I deeply admire. Not one of her accusations is anchored in reality!

See also: anchor

boat anchor

Something related to computing and technology that is regarded as cumbersome and ineffectual, often obsolete. What are we going to do with a computer running Windows 95? Get that boat anchor out of here! A: "It's worse than I thought—Grandpa still uses dial-up." B: "Yikes, we need to move on from that boat anchor first thing!" You can't keep running these boat anchors, you know. You need to upgrade your software one of these days!

See also: anchor, boat

drop anchor

To let down the anchor to secure a ship. We've been sailing all day, and here seems like a good enough spot to drop anchor, don't you think? Captain, are you ready for us to drop anchor? We should drop anchor at the next port at 1300.

See also: anchor, drop

lie at anchor

Of a ship, to remain anchored in wait. We must lie at anchor until this storm passes by. We have a ship lying at anchor the moment you are ready to depart.

See also: anchor, lie

swallow the anchor

To retire from life at sea. After so many years sailing the seas, I knew it was time for me to swallow the anchor and adopt a more normal lifestyle on land.

See also: anchor, swallow

weigh anchor

To hoist the anchor so that a ship can sail. Weigh anchor, boys—we're going home!

See also: anchor, weigh

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

lie at anchor

[for a ship] to wait or rest at anchor. The ship lay at anchor throughout the day while a shore party searched for the runaway. We lay at anchor overnight, waiting for the tide.

See also: anchor, lie

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

weigh ˈanchor

(of a ship and its passengers) leave a place: We weighed anchor in the afternoon and started for the Philippines.

This means ‘to lift the anchor out of the water’ before sailing away.

See also: anchor, weigh

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

anchor-clanker

n. a sailor. (Army.) How can you anchor-clankers stand being cooped up on those cans?

boat anchor

n. a useless computer; anything heavy and useless. Why don’t you replace that boat anchor with a new model?

See also: anchor, boat

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.