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At a Loose End (Origin)
by Craig ShrivesWhat Is the Origin of the Saying "At a Loose End"?
To be at a loose end means to have nothing to do. It is a nautical term, which refers to a time when a ship's captain would task idle sailors (i.e., those with nothing to do) with checking the ends of rigging ropes to ensure none had come loose.Previous and Next Sayings
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