What are the origins of the sayings "to be stonewalled" when you cannot proceed in any direction , and "three sheets to the wind" when you're drunk
2006-11-24 02:30:47 · 2 answers · asked by birdman 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
'Three sheets to the wind' is a nautical term. A lerge sailing vessel has 3 large sails ( and perhaps others, but these three are the most important in controlling the ship.) In rough weather, these sails, or 'sheets' are difficult to control and manipulate and sometimes, the ropes would be wrenched from the sailors hands, leaving the sheet in question flapping about and the sail useless. With one sheet 'to the wind' the vessel could still manage, with 2, things become more serious and with 3 sheets are to the wind, the vessel is uncontrollable. Sailors would just pray that the storm would pass quickly without capsizing the ship. These days, the term is also used to describe a person who is so drunk that he cannot control his gait and is staggering about all over the place.
2006-11-24 04:12:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Being Stonewalled may come from Stonewall Jackson- a military term for "boxing" your opponent in.
Three Sheets to the wind is the term from sailing, when the vessel sits idle and the sails (sheets) are just flapping all about.
2006-11-24 03:08:24 · answer #2 · answered by ••Mott•• 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋