damn the torpedoes

      English

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      Etymology

      From "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", a famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut during the Battle of Mobile Bay, a paraphrase of the actual order, "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!".[1]

      Verb

      damn the torpedoes

      1. (idiomatic) Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
        • "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!" -- David Farragut
        • 1991 January 27, “Did Hollywood Sit on 'Fences'?”, New York Times:
          There's too much attention paid to the wrong issues. Let's just damn the torpedoes and get it done.
      Last modified on 19 June 2013, at 12:55