DOWN HATCH Meaning and
Definition
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"Down hatch" is a colloquial expression mainly used in American and British English to describe the act of swallowing food or drink. It can be interpreted as the literal process of ingesting substances through the mouth into the digestive system.
The phrase originates from nautical terminology, as "hatch" refers to an opening or door on a ship's deck leading to the lower levels or cargo holds. In this context, "down hatch" would mean goods being lowered or passed through the hatch. Over time, the expression has transitioned to everyday language, particularly when referring to consumption.
"Down hatch" is often used in a casual or informal manner to convey the swift ingestion of food or drink, emphasizing the act of consuming in a quick, efficient manner. It can be used to describe someone who eagerly consumes a meal or beverage without hesitation or delay.
Additionally, "down hatch" can be used metaphorically to describe the acceptance or incorporation of an idea, suggestion, or directive. In this sense, it reflects an individual's willingness to embrace or adopt something without question or resistance.
Overall, "down hatch" is an expressive idiom that portrays the swift process of swallowing food or drink, highlighting the simple act of ingestion with a touch of informality or figurative connotation.
Common Misspellings for DOWN HATCH
- sown hatch
- xown hatch
- cown hatch
- fown hatch
- rown hatch
- eown hatch
- diwn hatch
- dkwn hatch
- dlwn hatch
- dpwn hatch
- d0wn hatch
- d9wn hatch
- doqn hatch
- doan hatch
- dosn hatch
- doen hatch
- do3n hatch
- do2n hatch
- dowb hatch
- dowm hatch
Etymology of DOWN HATCH
The phrase "down hatch" is a colloquial expression typically used when someone is about to swallow a drink or some food. While the exact etymology is unclear, it is believed to have emerged from nautical terminology.
In sailing, there is a forward-facing opening on a ship's deck called a hatch. It is used for accessing the lower decks, cargo holds, or storage areas. To load or unload items onto or off of the ship, sailors would lower them through the hatch. This action of lowering objects gave rise to the phrase "down the hatch", referring to anything going below the deck.
Over time, this maritime phrase made its way into common usage to describe the act of consuming something, particularly liquid, by analogy to lowering it below decks. It has become a casual and idiomatic way to express the action of swallowing or consuming.
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