English · Idiom Historical

the anchor comes home

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

The anchor has been dragged from its hold. Figuratively, the enterprise has failed, notwithstanding the precautions employed.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Topics: House & home Sea & boats Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “the anchor comes home” mean?

The anchor has been dragged from its hold. Figuratively, the enterprise has failed, notwithstanding the precautions employed.

Is “the anchor comes home” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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