pastime

he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime

proverb Because sailing can be so dangerous and unpredictable, those who choose to do it for enjoyment must like things that others would find unpleasant. My friend loves taking his boat out on the ocean, but I used to be a sailor, so I know that he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime. After you've almost died in a violent storm out on the ocean, you know that he that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime! When we kids would delight in going out on the family boat, our grandfather would issue a stern warning—"He that would go to sea for pleasure would go to hell for a pastime."

See also: for, go, he, hell, pastime, pleasure, sea, that, to

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

He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.

Prov. Being a sailor is so unpleasant that anyone who would do it for fun must be crazy. Old Sailor: Why did you decide to go to sea? Young Sailor: I thought it would be fun. Old Sailor: He that would go to sea for pleasure, would go to hell for a pastime.

See also: for, go, he, hell, pastime, sea, that, to

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