" Flotsam and jetsam "
Meaning:
Assorted bits and pieces of rubbish; especially items that are found in the sea.
Example:
You could say that the cardboard boxes that I've moved from house to house without unpacking are the flotsam and jetsam of my life.
Where did it originate?:
Britain - 19th century. Derives from 'things that float' and 'things that have been jettisoned'.
Where is it used?:
Mostly Britain, but more widely too.
Hear the idiom spoken:
