Hey Guys, Studycat here again! I’m back with another English idiom today, ‘to be in the same boat’. I’ll be honest, I don’t like this one – I hate getting wet! It makes me shiver just thinking about it… I am not much of a sailor. I don’t really like water. I am NOT scared of it. I just don’t really like it that much as it gets my fur all wet. The reason I am telling you this is because this idiom is about being in a boat (as if you hadn’t guessed).
To be in the same boat – Meaning & Origin
“To be in the same boat” means to be in the same difficult situation as someone else. Think about it – imagine that you’re sailing across the seas with lots of other people, perhaps your sailing to discover new lands, or find treasure! Well, if there’s a storm, or you see pirates, then you’re all in trouble, right? So everyone is equal, and everyone is in the same boat. Does that make more sense now?
It’s hard to find out exactly when the saying started, but it must have been many years ago, as people have been sailing and using boats for thousands of years.
Now people use it for many other situations. If you have a big test tomorrow, then you and your classmates are all in the same boat. Good luck! My advice is not to get into boats in the first place. Remember, cats don’t like water.
Anyway, if you’d like to find out more English sayings and words, then you can use my Fun Studycat apps here!