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beam-ends
[beem-endz]
plural noun
Nautical.the ends of the transverse deck beams of a vessel.
beam-ends
plural noun
the ends of a vessel's beams
(of a vessel) heeled over through an angle of 90°
out of resources; destitute
desperate
Word History and Origins
Origin of beam-ends1
Idioms and Phrases
on her beam-ends, heeled so far on one side that the deck is practically vertical.
The schooner was blown over on her beam-ends.
on one's / the beam-ends, in desperate straits, especially financial straits. Also on the beam's ends.
Example Sentences
Everything was reeling about him; the yacht stood nearly upon her beam-ends as she climbed on the waves.
Suddenly, in the midst of one of the gayest songs, a squall struck the vessel, and as she was carrying all sail, put her nearly on her beam-ends.
But the Dart was already lying on her beam-ends, heaving, groaning and quivering throughout every timber, in the fierce embrace of the tremendous blast!
I was on my beam-ends, without a dollar in my pocket, when he held out his hand to me.
Ships at anchor under high land are sometimes suddenly thrown over on their beam-ends, and the next moment recover their equilibrium, as if nothing had occurred.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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