jump ship
Meaning: To abandon a group or cause, often for a rival.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Half the sales team jumped ship when the competitor offered better bonuses.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Originally said of sailors who deserted their ship before the end of their service. The figurative sense of leaving an organization or side dates from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Tourner casaque — literally: To turn one's tabard
- French: Retourner sa veste — literally: To turn one's jacket inside out
More idioms — Daily Life
- left on the shelf — To be considered too old to marry; more generally, to be passed over.
- Caesar's wife must be above suspicion — People in prominent positions must avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing.
- the game is not worth the candle — The effort or cost is greater than the reward.
- be a third wheel — To be an unwanted extra person with a couple.
- have a seat at the table — To be included in the discussions where decisions are made.
- find Mr. Right — To find the ideal romantic partner.
More English idioms
- take with a grain of salt — To be skeptical about something; not to take it entirely at face value.
- like a bat out of hell — Extremely fast.
- all roads lead to Rome — There are many ways to reach the same goal.
- a snake-oil salesman — A swindler who sells fake remedies or worthless solutions.
- shut up shop — To close a business, either for the day or for good.
- it doesn't take a rocket scientist — Something is easy to understand; no special intelligence is needed.
From our proverbs
- Poverty makes a man acquainted with strange bed-fellows. — Difficult circumstances force people to associate with those they'd normally avoid or rej…
- True praise takes root and spreads. — Genuine compliments, like seeds, gain momentum and influence others' perceptions through…
- Neither praise nor dispraise thyself, thine actions serve the turn. — Your deeds speak louder than self-promotion or self-deprecation; let accomplishments prov…