| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | above board | honest and open |
| 2. | all at sea | completely confused |
| 3. | all hands on deck | everyone must help immediately |
| 4. | any port in a storm | any help is welcome in trouble |
| 5. | as the crow flies | in a straight line |
| 6. | at sea | confused; not understanding |
| 7. | back and fill | vacillate; change direction |
| 8. | batten down the hatches | prepare for trouble |
| 9. | be in the doldrums | feel low and inactive |
| 10. | big fish | important person in a group |
| 11. | bitter end | the very last moment |
| 12. | by and large | generally; on the whole |
| 13. | carry too much sail | take on too much |
| 14. | cast off | leave; set out |
| 15. | clear the decks | prepare for action |
| 16. | come on board | join a group or plan |
| 17. | cut and run | leave quickly to avoid trouble |
| 18. | cut of one’s jib | someone’s style or character |
| 19. | davy jones’s locker | the bottom of the sea |
| 20. | dead in the water | unable to move or progress |
| 21. | deep six | get rid of completely |
| 22. | down the hatch | drink it |
| 23. | drop anchor | settle in one place |
| 24. | drop the pilot | remove a leader or guide |
| 25. | even keel | steady and balanced |
| 26. | fair winds and following seas | good luck and safe travel |
| 27. | fathom out | understand something complex |
| 28. | fish or cut bait | decide and act now |
| 29. | fish out of water | uncomfortable in surroundings |
| 30. | flotsam and jetsam | useless odds and ends |
| 31. | full steam ahead | proceed with maximum effort |
| 32. | get one’s sea legs | adapt to a new situation |
| 33. | give a wide berth | keep a safe distance |
| 34. | go by the board | be discarded or lost |
| 35. | go down with the ship | stay loyal to the end |
| 36. | go overboard | do something excessively |
| 37. | hand over fist | very quickly and steadily |
| 38. | hard a-starboard | turn sharply right |
| 39. | have a whale of a time | have a great time |
| 40. | heave-ho | a coordinated effort |
| 41. | high and dry | left stranded or helpless |
| 42. | hit the high seas | go out to sea |
| 43. | in deep water | in serious trouble |
| 44. | in the offing | likely to happen soon |
| 45. | in the same boat | in the same situation |
| 46. | in the wake of | following as a result |
| 47. | keel over | collapse or faint |
| 48. | keep a weather eye | watch carefully for trouble |
| 49. | keep afloat | manage to survive financially |
| 50. | keep one’s head above water | avoid being overwhelmed |
| 51. | keep the ship afloat | keep something functioning |
| 52. | know the ropes | understand how things work |
| 53. | like ships in the night | pass without connecting |
| 54. | loose cannon | unpredictable dangerous person |
| 55. | lower the boom | punish or act forcefully |
| 56. | make a clean sweep | remove everything or everyone |
| 57. | make port | reach a safe place |
| 58. | make sternway | move backward; retreat |
| 59. | make waves | cause trouble or change |
| 60. | miss the boat | lose an opportunity |
| 61. | muddy the waters | make something more confusing |
| 62. | nail one’s colors to the mast | declare loyalty openly |
| 63. | no room to swing a cat | very little space |
| 64. | not the only fish in the sea | other options exist |
| 65. | old salt | an experienced sailor |
| 66. | on an even keel | stable and balanced |
| 67. | on board | in agreement; participating |
| 68. | on the rocks | in serious trouble |
| 69. | on the same tack | following the same approach |
| 70. | out of one’s depth | beyond one’s ability |
| 71. | pipe down | be quiet |
| 72. | plain sailing | easy progress |
| 73. | push the boat out | spend more than usual |
| 74. | rock the boat | cause trouble; upset stability |
| 75. | run a tight ship | manage very strictly |
| 76. | run aground | get stuck; fail |
| 77. | run before the wind | go with prevailing forces |
| 78. | sail close to the wind | take risks; bend rules |
| 79. | sail through | succeed easily |
| 80. | sailing under false colors | pretending to be something else |
| 81. | sea change | a major transformation |
| 82. | set sail | begin a journey |
| 83. | ship has sailed | the chance is gone |
| 84. | shipshape and Bristol fashion | neat and in good order |
| 85. | sink or swim | succeed or fail by yourself |
| 86. | smooth sailing | easy progress |
| 87. | steady as she goes | continue steadily |
| 88. | take the wind out of one’s sails | reduce confidence or momentum |
| 89. | trim one’s sails | adjust plans to conditions |
| 90. | turn the tide | reverse a situation |
| 91. | uncharted waters | an unfamiliar situation |
| 92. | under full sail | moving at top speed |
| 93. | under one’s own steam | by one’s own power |
| 94. | under sail | traveling by sail power |
| 95. | under the weather | feeling ill |
| 96. | up the creek | in serious trouble |
| 97. | water off a duck’s back | criticism that doesn’t affect you |
| 98. | water under the bridge | past events no longer important |
| 99. | watered-down | made weaker or less effective |
| 100. | weather the storm | survive a difficult time |
