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Hit The Deck for Dummies

verb


What does Hit The Deck really mean?

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Hey there! So, I see you're wondering about the expression "Hit The Deck." Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest and most engaging way possible. Imagine you're on a ship, sailing across the vast ocean. Suddenly, you hear a loud alarm bell and a shout, "Hit The Deck!" What would you do?

To put it simply, "Hit The Deck" means to quickly and urgently drop down to the ground or floor. It's like when you're playing a game of tag, and you hear your friend yell, "Freeze!" You immediately drop to the ground because you know that you have to stay still. Well, that's the idea behind "Hit The Deck."

Now, let's dig a little deeper into this phrase. "Hit The Deck" actually originates from nautical (ship-related) terminology. When there's a sudden attack or danger on a ship, the crew members need to take cover as quickly as possible. They would drop down to the lowest part of the ship, called the deck, to protect themselves from potential harm.

Think of it as a reflex action, like when a basketball player sees an opponent trying to steal the ball. They react quickly by bouncing the ball off the ground and regaining control. Similarly, when we hear the phrase "Hit The Deck," it triggers an automatic response to seek protection by dropping down to the ground.

But wait, there's another meaning to "Hit The Deck" too! In a different context, it can also mean to fall down suddenly due to being hit or knocked over. Picture this: you're playing a game of soccer, and out of nowhere, the ball smacks you right in the chest. You lose your balance and crash onto the ground. In this scenario, you can also say you "Hit The Deck."

So, to sum it all up, "Hit The Deck" means to quickly drop down to the ground or floor, usually in response to a sudden threat or danger. It originates from nautical vocabulary and can also be used when someone falls suddenly after being hit. I hope this explanation helps you understand the phrase better! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

Revised and Fact checked by William Taylor on 2023-10-29 10:13:01

Hit The Deck In a sentece

Learn how to use Hit The Deck inside a sentece

  • When the storm approaches, it's important to hit the deck and take cover to stay safe.
  • If you hear a loud noise, like a firecracker, you might instinctively hit the deck and duck down to protect yourself.
  • During military training, soldiers are trained to hit the deck quickly upon hearing the command to avoid incoming fire.
  • In a baseball game, if a player hits a powerful line drive, the fielders need to be quick to react and hit the deck to avoid getting hit by the ball.
  • When playing a game of dodgeball, if you see a ball flying towards you, the best strategy is to hit the deck and dodge it.

Hit The Deck Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Hit The Deck Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.