When sailing close to shore it is important to keep an eye on the depth of the water. In the age of sailing ships this was done by dropping a line over the side of the ship with a lead weight fastened to the end. To swing the lead was considered an easy job and eventually became a term meaning one who is either avoiding hard work or taking and easy option. Hence in modern terms if you ‘swing the lead’ you are slacking off.
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Comments (2)
01/04/2022 @ 1:20 pm
HG CREW
Swinging the lead origin
Thanks Peta, thats a great alternative.
01/04/2022 @ 8:56 am
Peta Bradley
I have been reading my Great Uncle's life story, he was a sailor on board H.M.S. Gloucester , he has written another explanation for the phrase 'Swinging the lead '. He had written this 'I remember Christmas Day 1914, I had been in the chains swinging the lead because I was that cold.' So I wonder if the phrase may not only be used for laziness but because the sailors when they were on board ship used the chains on the ship to make themselves warm by swinging on them and called that swinging the lead.
Peta Bradley
Thanks Peta, thats a great alternative.
Peta Bradley