swallow the anchor
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To leave the navy.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
My grand pa was the carpenter on his ship, but had a few years before swallowed the anchor and stepped on land to repair boats.
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 “swallow the anchor” mean?
To leave the navy.
Is “swallow the anchor” formal or informal?
swallow the anchor is generally slang.