weigh the anchor
Definition
- Verb:
- To lift a ship's anchor from the seabed in preparation for departure: This is the specific nautical action of raising the anchor so that a vessel can begin sailing.
Usage
- This verb phrase is used to describe the specific action of preparing a ship or boat to leave its anchored position. It is an intransitive verb phrase; it does not take a direct object. The subject is typically the crew or the ship itself.
- It is a formal and traditional nautical term. In modern, casual contexts, people might simply say "pull up the anchor" or "raise the anchor."
Examples
- Verb:
- The captain gave the order to weigh the anchor at dawn.
- After the storm passed, we weighed the anchor and continued our voyage.
Advanced Usage
- "To weigh anchor": This is the more common and standard form of the phrase, used without the definite article "the."
- It's time to weigh anchor and set sail for home.
Variants and Related Words
- Weigh anchor (verb phrase): The standard form meaning to lift the anchor.
- Anchor (noun): The heavy device dropped to the seabed to hold a vessel in place.
- Heave (verb): To pull or lift something heavy, often used in the context of anchor handling (e.g., "heave the anchor").
Synonyms
- Raise the anchor: A more general, modern synonym.
- Pull up the anchor: A common, informal synonym.
- Up anchor: A concise, chiefly British nautical command.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Weigh in: To have one's weight measured, or to join a discussion forcefully. (Note: This is a distinct phrasal verb unrelated to anchoring).
- Weigh on: To cause worry or distress. (Note: This is a distinct phrasal verb unrelated to anchoring).
Related Idioms
- To weigh one's words: To think carefully about what one is going to say.
- To anchor oneself: To secure oneself firmly in a place or situation.
Verb
-
heave up an anchor in preparation for sailing
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