Many everyday British sayings come from the sea. For centuries Britain was a maritime nation, its sailors shaped the language as much as the tides shaped the coast. You may use these phrases without even realising their origins. “Learn the ropes” – new sailors literally had to memorise the maze of rigging on sailing ships. “Show your true colours” – warships sometimes sailed under false flags before raising their real flag before battle. “Taken aback” – when wind suddenly pushes sails backwards, stopping a ship dead. “Taken down a peg” - On sailing ships, the ship’s rum ration was measured using pegs in a barrel. “By and large” - A sailing term meaning a ship could sail both into the wind (“by”) and with the wind (“large”). “Loose cannon” – an unsecured cannon rolling across a ship’s deck during battle could cause chaos. Britain’s language carries the memory of its seafaring past. @RoyalNavy @RMGreenwich