What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase or expression. They are tricky to understand as their meanings do not directly relate to the individual words used in the phrase.

Definition:

The English idiom "all hands on deck" means that everyone is needed to help with an important task or problem. It is used when there is a situation that requires everyone's effort and cooperation, such as a crisis.

Origin:

The idiom comes from ships. All crew members were called to the deck to work together during an emergency.

Hands - refers to the sailors or crew members on the ship.

Deck - is the main floor of the ship.

Examples:

Over time, the idiom has been adopted into general use to mean that everyone's help is needed in an important situation.

Here are some examples of how these idioms are used in sentences:

Business context:

"We have a major deadline coming up next week. It's all hands on deck to make sure we deliver on time."

Household context:

"The party starts in two hours, and we still need to prepare the food. It's all hands on deck to get everything ready."

Education environment:

"The graduation ceremony is tomorrow, and there is still lots to do. We need all hands on deck to make sure everything is perfect for the event."

More English idioms explained…