6 Commonly Used Sailor Phrases & The Origins
By Travis MackinSan Francisco Maritime National Park Association
1) A1 originates from the late 17th century when insurance firms would rate the hull and gear of a merchant ship as being the highest quality.
![A1 A1](/images/A1_4.jpg)
2) Touch and go originates from when ships would make short stays in a port while traveling to their destination.
![touch and go touch and go](/images/touchandgo.png)
3) Know the ropes comes from learning the names and uses of the hundreds of lines a sailor would have to be familiar with to be considered an old salt.
![ropes ropes](/images/ropes.png)
4) Walk the chalk originates from when sailors would have to walk a line of chalk on the deck of a ship to prove their sobriety.
![walk the chalk walk the chalk](/images/walkthechalk.png)
5) Under the weather comes from when crashing waves and bad weather would hit under the bow of a ship.
![under the weather under the weather](/images/undertheweather.png)
![fits the bill fits the bill](/images/fitsthebill.png)