DEEP SIXING Meaning and
Definition
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Deep sixing is a colloquial expression that originated in nautical terminology and has since entered everyday usage. As a verb phrase, "to deep six" refers to the act of disposing or discarding something, often with the intention of permanently getting rid of it. The term draws its meaning from the practice of burying or throwing items at sea in water that is at least six fathoms (36 feet) deep, thereby making it difficult or nearly impossible to retrieve.
Primarily used in informal contexts, the term is commonly employed to express the idea of throwing away or erasing something without trace or recollection. It implies complete destruction or removal, making it irretrievable or forgotten. Deep sixing can pertain to a variety of objects, such as ideas, projects, evidence, or documents. It often carries the connotation of getting rid of unwanted or inconvenient items discreetly, ensuring that they are effectively lost and no longer pose a threat or inconvenience.
The phrase has also been figuratively extended beyond its maritime origins to describe personal situations. It can refer to the act of ending or terminating a relationship or association abruptly, as if disposing of an undesirable object. In this context, it suggests a sudden and total break, leaving no chance of continuation or recovery. Overall, deep sixing is a metaphorical expression widely understood as a way of permanently discarding something, whether tangible or intangible, with the intention of making it vanish or ensuring it has no future impact.
Common Misspellings for DEEP SIXING
- deep-sizing
- deeep-sixing
- deep-sizxing
- deep-sixsing
- deep-siixing
- deep-sixxing
- deepsixinng
- Deeep Sixxing
- Deep Sixxsing
- Depp Sixning
- Depp Sixxing
- Depp Sixsing
Etymology of DEEP SIXING
The etymology of the phrase "deep sixing" is closely tied to nautical terminology and the practice of burial at sea. In traditional maritime customs, the term "deep six" referred to the act of burying someone or something at a depth of six fathoms (36 feet or around 11 meters) in the ocean. This deep depth ensured that the body or object would not resurface easily.
Over time, "deep six" began to be used figuratively to mean the act of getting rid of or disposing something completely or irretrievably. The phrase "deep sixing" emerged as a verb form, used to describe the act of discarding, eliminating, or getting rid of something or someone beyond recovery. This usage has expanded beyond maritime contexts, and it is now a colloquial term used in various contexts to denote the permanent elimination or burying of something.
