abandoning ship

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   The act of leaving a ship that is in danger, especially one that is sinking.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: 'They are abandoning ship.' The base form is 'abandon ship'.

   Patterns

   • abandon ship
   • be abandoning ship

   The captain gave the order to abandon ship after the engine room flooded.

   Passengers began abandoning ship as soon as the fire spread to the deck.

   The crew practiced abandoning ship during the safety drill.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   Leaving a failing organization, project, or situation to avoid being part of its failure.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively in business or politics: 'Investors are abandoning ship.'

   Patterns

   • abandon ship
   • be abandoning ship

   When the company's profits fell, several top managers started abandoning ship.

   The team is abandoning ship just when we need them most.

   Investors are abandoning ship after the scandal broke.

Common combinations

order to abandon ship

The captain gave the order to abandon ship.

abandon ship

The sailors had to abandon ship in the storm.

be ready to abandon ship

The crew was ready to abandon ship at any moment.

abandoning ship

Abandoning ship is always a last resort.

Synonyms and how they differ

evacuate

A more general word for moving people out of a dangerous place; it can be used for buildings or areas, not just ships.

desert

Used figuratively for leaving a person or cause, often with a sense of betrayal; 'abandon ship' focuses on leaving a failing situation.

Opposites

Word family

abandon verb

To leave someone or something behind permanently.

abandonment noun

The act of leaving something or someone behind.

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “abandoning ship”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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