desert a sinking ship

Idioms

Abandon a failing enterprise before it is too late. For example, After seeing the company's financial statement, he knew it was time to desert a sinking ship. This metaphoric expression alludes to rats, which leave a vessel when it founders in a storm or runs aground so as to escape drowning. It was transferred to human behavior by about 1600.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If rats desert a sinking ship, mice teem over this one.

From Time Magazine Archive

The first to desert a sinking ship is the first to discover the ship is sinking.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is a generally well-founded belief among sailors that rats will desert a sinking ship.

From The Story of a Strange Career Being the Autobiography of a Convict; an Authentic Document by Anonymous

He is deserting us as rats desert a sinking ship," Mrs. Doolan said positively; "and I am only surprised that he has the grace to feel a little ashamed of the action.

From Rujub, the Juggler by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Sailors tell us that the rats desert a sinking ship.

From Verner's Pride by Wood, Henry, Mrs.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023