Brewer's: Nail One's Colours to the Mast

(To). To refuse to surrender. When the colours are nailed to the mast they cannot be lowered in proof of submission.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Related Content