Discovering the naval roots behind phrases like loose cannon and the bitter end and explore real Greenwich stories that bring every idiom to life.
Pushing the boat out at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
One of the unexpected delights of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, is learning where certain phrases come from.
The Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery of the museum focuses a lot on Navy life and the exploits of Admiral Horatio Nelson. But it is also dotted with little signs that show the naval origins of some well-known phrases.
Some are more obvious than others. “Pushing the boat out”, meaning to go to extra lengths to please, obviously refers to boats. But why do we say it? Well, apparently, having a seaman push your boat into the water was seen as an act of generosity and kindness.
Why book a Westminster to Greenwich sightseeing Thames cruise?
- 🚤 Relax on a leisurely cruise along London’s famous river
- 🏙 See landmarks like the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Shard
- 🎧 Enjoy live or recorded commentary with fascinating city history
- 📍 Finish in Greenwich, home to the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark
- 🕒 Flexible ticket lets you choose your departure time
What do loose cannon and first rate mean?
The term “loose cannon” comes from naval warfare. A cannon that was not tied down, rolling around the deck was exceptionally dangerous.
Others are less obvious, “first rate” among them. According to the National Maritime Museum displays, a “first rate” ship was one carrying at least 100 guns. This would inevitably be the largest and most powerful ship in the Navy.
Five great things to do in London
- 🚖 Take a private black cab tour around London’s highlights – with hotel pick-up.
- 🧙 Discover Harry Potter filming locations – and spots that inspired the books – on a wizarding walking tour.
- 🍴 Taste the best of British cuisine on a food tour through Borough Market.
- 🚲 Combine landmarks, pubs and street art – on a guided bike tour.
- ⛴️ Take a sightseeing cruise along the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich.
Origins of true colours and to swing a cat
“Show your true colours” is another good phrase of Naval origin. It comes from enemy ships flying foreign flags to disguise their identity. They would switch to the real flag – the true colours – just before battle.
Perhaps the most surprising of these naval phrases explained by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is “no room to swing a cat”. It probably doesn’t take a great leap of imagination that crew quarters were cramped. However, the cat in question is not a yelping feline being swung around by its tail.
No, the cat is the Cat O’ Nine Tails, a whip with multiple flailing ends and knots, designed to inflict excruciating damage. The Cat O’ Nine Tails was used to punish misbehaviour on British naval ships. But the person dishing out that punishment need sufficient space to swing the whip for it to be effective.
These little nuggets aren’t a reason in themselves to visit the National Maritime Museum. They are, however, the sort of thing that keep you in there for much longer than you were probably anticipating.
Why book a Greenwich Museums Day Explorer Pass?
- ⏱ Skip separate ticket lines and visit both the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark in one day
- 🌍 Stand on the Prime Meridian and learn about GMT at the historic Royal Observatory
- 🚢 Explore the famed 19th-century tea clipper, the Cutty Sark, and walk under its copper hull
- 🎨 Includes free entry to Queens House and the National Maritime Museum on the same day
- 🎧 Multilingual audio guides available for a richer, self-paced visit
National Maritime Museum visitor information
Entrance to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich is free, although donations are requested.
More London travel
Other London travel stories on Planet Whitley include:
- The cheeky way to get cheaper London Eye tickets.
- Inside the Churchill War Rooms.
- How to get on the Harry Potter Studios Tour when tickets have sold out.
- How to get free entry to St Paul’s Cathedral.
- The best weather for visiting Thorpe Park.
- The part of the Tower of London you should visit first.
For a vast range of London tours, experiences and activities, look over here.
