flotsam and jetsam
The term "flotsam and jetsam" originates from maritime contexts, referring to debris from ships, and is also used metaphorically to describe items or people of little value.
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Definition
C1Nautical
(technical, legal)Debris from a shipwreck or items intentionally discarded from a ship, found floating in the sea or washed ashore.
Example
- After the storm, the beach was littered with flotsam and jetsam from the shipwreck.
- Maritime law distinguishes between flotsam and jetsam when determining ownership rights.
B2Metaphorical
(figurative)A collection of miscellaneous or discarded items, often implying they are of little value.
Example
- The garage sale was filled with flotsam and jetsam from their attic.
- He felt like flotsam and jetsam in the bustling city, lost and insignificant.