all hands on deck
The phrase "all hands on deck" has nautical origins and is used to signify the need for everyone's participation, especially in urgent situations.
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Definition
C1Nautical
(historical)A command for all crew members to come to the deck, usually in an emergency.
Example
- The captain shouted 'All hands on deck!' as the storm approached.
B2General
(idiomatic)A call for everyone's help and effort to address a situation or complete a task.
Example
- With the deadline approaching, it was all hands on deck to finish the project.
- During the crisis, the company needed an all-hands-on-deck approach to manage the situation.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "all hands on deck":
all handson all handson deckclear the deckson the deckall standingall outfull speed aheadall inplay with a full deckat the helmall eyes