like a martin to his gourd
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Straight, unerringly, directly.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The ball flew to its mark like a martin to his gourd and Lucky Ned Pepper fell dead in the saddle.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “like a martin to his gourd” mean?
Straight, unerringly, directly.
Is “like a martin to his gourd” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.