sea-legs
Definition
- Noun:
- Ability to walk steadily on a moving ship: "sea-legs" refers to the acquired ability to maintain one's balance and move comfortably on a ship or boat that is rocking due to waves.
- Adaptation to motion at sea: It also implies a general tolerance for the motion of a vessel, often after an initial period of adjustment.
Usage Examples
- (I became able to walk steadily on the moving ship.)
- (He could not adapt to the ship's motion.)
Advanced Usage
"to find one's sea-legs": to become accustomed to the motion of a ship and gain the ability to walk steadily.
- The new crew member took an hour to find his sea-legs. (He needed time to adapt.)
"to have good sea-legs": to be naturally or quickly adapted to walking on a moving ship.
- She has excellent sea-legs; she can carry a tray of drinks even in a storm. (She is very steady on a rocking deck.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sea-leg (n, rare): a single instance of such ability, but almost always used in the plural form "sea-legs."
- Seaworthy (adj): fit for travel at sea (used for ships, not people).
- The boat is seaworthy after the repairs. (It is safe to sail.)
Synonyms
- Sea legs: the same term, often written as one word or hyphenated.
- Equilibrium at sea: a formal description of the ability to balance on a moving vessel.
- Adaptation to ship motion: the process of becoming steady on deck.
Related Idioms
- "Get one's sea-legs": to become accustomed to life at sea or to a new situation.
- He struggled at first, but he soon got his sea-legs in the new job. (He adapted to the new environment.)