nail one's colours to the mast
(Redirected from pin one's colours to the mast)
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom the naval military practice of displaying one's colours (signal flags or insignia) from the mast of a ship during battle to show loyalty. To surrender, one would strike one's colours, i.e. take down one's flag. If a ship nailed its colours to the mast, it would fight to the death and not surrender.
Pronunciation
editVerb
editnail one's colours to the mast (third-person singular simple present nails one's colours to the mast, present participle nailing one's colours to the mast, simple past and past participle nailed one's colours to the mast)
- To clearly show one's support for a side or opinion in a dispute, often indicating an intention to defend that side to the end.
- 1808, Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto I, Introduction, Stanza 10:
- Stood for his country’s glory fast,
And nail’d her colours to the mast!
- Stood for his country’s glory fast,
- 1808, Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto I, Introduction, Stanza 10:
Translations
editto clearly show one's support
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