swallow the anchor

swallow the anchor

To retire from life at sea. After so many years sailing the seas, I knew it was time for me to swallow the anchor and adopt a more normal lifestyle on land.
See also: anchor, swallow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • drop anchor
  • at sea
  • luff up
  • round to
  • swallow (one's) words
  • swallow one's words
  • colour
  • sail for (some place)
  • a hard pill to swallow
  • a tough pill to swallow
References in periodicals archive
The longer someone is at sea the harder it may be to leave or "swallow the anchor".