English Explanatory Dictionary

nail one's colours to the mast

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To clearly show one's support for a side or opinion in a dispute, often indicating an intention to defend that side to the end.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nail one's colours to the mast.wav

Word forms

nail one's colours to the mast nails one's colours to the mast nailing one's colours to the mast nailed one's colours to the mast pin one's colours to the mast

Etymology

From the naval military practice of displaying one's colours (signal flags or insignia) from the mast of a ship during battle to show loyalty. To surrender, one would strike one's colours, i.e. take down one's flag. If a ship nailed its colours to the mast, it would fight to the death and not surrender.

Related words

raise the flag and see who salutes show one's true colors stand up and be counted
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