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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

damn the torpedoes en · VERB

Pronunciation

Etymology

From "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", a famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut during the Battle of Mobile Bay, a paraphrase of the actual order, "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!".

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, imperative) Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
    • There's too much attention paid to the wrong issues. Let's just damn the torpedoes and get it done. 1991 January 27, “Did Hollywood Sit on 'Fences'?”, in New York Times:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
damned the torpedoes Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
damned the torpedoes Tense=Past lexicographic
damning the torpedoes Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
damns the torpedoes Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

burn one's boats

Translations (1)

es quemar la santabárbara (Translations)

wikipedia: David Farragut · wikipedia: Battle of Mobile Bay