The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท A

All in the same boat

Meaning

Means that everyone in a group is facing the same difficult situation or circumstances. We are all going through the same struggle together.

Empathetic, communal

Used in a sentence

  • We are all worried about the layoffs, so we are all in the same boat.
  • Since the bus broke down, we are all in the same boat waiting for the next one.
  • Don't complain about the late hours, we are all in the same boat.

The backstory

A nautical metaphor dating back to the idea that if a ship is in trouble, everyone on board shares the same fate regardless of rank.

Heard in

Nationwide

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