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At a Loose End (Origin)
What 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.Test Your Knowledge of English Proverbs and Idioms
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