go down with the ship
go down with the ship
1. To die because one was aboard a ship that sank. A ship's captain, in particular, is traditionally expected to remain on board a sinking ship in order to save as many other lives as possible. Some of the sailors were rescued, but the majority of the crew went down with the ship. No, you save yourselves. I'm the captain, and the captain goes down with the ship!
2. By extension, to fail or be punished as a result of one's involvement with some larger group or enterprise. With all this evidence coming out against the senator, the people in his office better think carefully before they speak out in support of him—otherwise, they're liable to go down with the ship. I'll go to the police about the CEO's cover-up if it means avoiding jail—I refuse to go down with this ship!
See also: down, go, ship
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- break ship
- a sinking ship
- sinking ship
- abandon ship
- moor up
- when one's ship comes in
- when ship comes in
- when someone's ship comes in
- when your ship comes in
- when your ship/boat comes in