IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishwait for one's ship to come in
Meaning: To wait for good fortune, especially sudden wealth.
Example: “He keeps buying lottery tickets, waiting for his ship to come in.”
Origin: Merchants who invested in trading voyages became rich only when their ships returned safely with goods to sell. The phrase for waiting for a stroke of good fortune is recorded from the 19th century.
More English idioms
- when the chips are down When the situation is critical; when things are going badly.
- whip someone or something into shape To mold or assemble something into its proper shape quickly.
- white lie A minor, polite, or harmless lie.
- the whole kit and caboodle The entire amount; the whole lot.
- go the whole nine yards To do something completely, holding nothing back.
- wing it To improvise; to do something without planning or preparation.
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