sea legs

American  

plural noun

1. the ability to adjust one's sense of balance to the motion of a ship at sea.

   He stumbled about the deck for three days before getting his sea legs.

2. the ability to remain free of seasickness.

3. surimi.

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sea legs British  

plural noun

1. the ability to maintain one's balance on board ship, esp in rough weather

2. the ability to resist seasickness, esp in rough weather

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sea legs Cultural  

1. To “have one's sea legs” is to be able to walk calmly and steadily on a tossing ship, or to become accustomed to a new or strange situation: “Even though Kimberly just joined the company, she's got her sea legs in a hurry.”

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sea legs Idioms  

1. The ability to adjust to a new situation or difficult conditions, as in She's only spoken in public a few times; she hasn't found her sea legs yet. This expression was first recorded in 1712 and then referred to, as it still does, the ability to walk steadily on board ship, especially in rough seas. By the late 1800s it was being transferred to other challenging situations.

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Etymology

Origin of sea legs

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Oli, who is about 10 years old, joined him five years ago and quickly earned his sea legs.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023

There’s a lot of work to do, but there’s a hunger in this organization to get our sea legs again.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2023

If the "Shadow and Bone" story is to continue, it needs to find its sea legs again.

From Salon • Mar. 23, 2023

“Her office is still getting their sea legs; we’ll learn more about her as we bring more bills to her desk for signature,” Sen. Hoylman-Sigal told me.

From Slate • Feb. 1, 2023

By the third day she had gotten her sea legs, which meant she felt queasy only part of the time.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood