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The meaning and origin of the expression: Hard and fast

Hard and fast

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Hard and fast'?

Rigidly adhered to - without doubt or debate.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Hard and fast'?

Hard and fastThis is a nautical term. A ship that was hard and fast was simply one that was firmly beached on land.

The term must have been well-known by the early 19th century as it was use in a figurative sense then; for example, The [London] Times, January 1820:

"She was laid before the fire, at about a yard distance, and was hard and fast asleep."

The Sailor's Word-Book: an alphabetical digest of nautical terms, William Henry Smyth's 1867 nautical dictionary, defines the term:

"Hard and fast. Said of a ship on shore."

See also - chock-a-block.

See other Nautical Phrases.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

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