to toss the oars
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To raise them vertically, resting on the handles. It is a form of salute.
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.
Common questions
What does “to toss the oars” mean?
To raise them vertically, resting on the handles. It is a form of salute.
Is “to toss the oars” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.