PhrasesHub

Walk the plank

    Definitions

      • encourage someone
        Encourage someone to take a risk or face a challenging situation, often in a lighthearted or humorous way

      • threaten someone
        Threaten someone with a punishment or consequence, especially in a playful or joking manner

    Examples of Walk the plank

    • In order to remove a dangerous and unruly crew member from the ship, the captain ordered him to "walk the plank."

      This idiom refers to the traditional punishment for pirates or other prisoners on board a ship. The plank was a wooden platform that extended over the side of the ship, and the prisoner would be ordered to walk along it and jump into the sea as a form of execution or punishment. In this context, "walk the plank" means to face a severe or dangerous situation willingly, often as a form of discipline or retribution.

    • Despite the risks and consequences, the senator refused to back down and "walked the plank" in defense of her principles.

      This example uses "walk the plank" figuratively to describe a situation where a person knows there will be negative consequences, but still chooses to stand firm in their beliefs or actions. It suggests that the person is taking a bold, principled stance, possibly in the face of adversity or opposition.

    • The CEO decided to "walk the plank" by stepping down from his position, admitting his mistakes, and taking responsibility for the company's failures.

      This example uses "walk the plank" in a more literal sense, as a metaphor for a significant or brave decision. It suggests that the CEO is making a bold and possibly difficult choice, in effect "jumping into the deep end" of a new challenge or set of circumstances. It could also imply a sense of solidarity or shared responsibility, as if the CEO is "walking the plank" alongside his or her company or employees.

    • The teacher refused to "walk the plank" by passing a student who had clearly cheated on a test, knowing that it would set a dangerous precedent for future students.

      This final example uses "walk the plank" to describe a difficult choice that a person must make in order to maintain their integrity or values. It suggests that there is often a price to be paid for upholding one's beliefs, whether it's social or professional backlash or personal discomfort. By refusing to "walk the plank," the teacher is choosing to remain principled and honorable, even in the face of adversity or pressure.

    • The captain of the ship ordered the mutinous crew to walk the plank as a punishment for their disobedience.

      This is a classic and literal use of the idiom, where someone is forced to walk on a plank over the side of a ship and into the water as a form of punishment, usually considered a deadly fate.

    • After her business partner betrayed her, Jane felt like she had been ordered to walk the plank in their professional relationship.

      This use of the idiom is a metaphorical way to describe feeling abandoned, betrayed, or isolated in a situation, where one feels like they've been decisively and irrevocably cast out and left to fend for themselves.

    • The coach wanted to motivate his struggling team by warning them that they might find themselves walking the plank if they didn't improve their performance.

      Here, the idiom is used in a metaphorical way to mean that the coach is threatening the team with severe consequences, suggesting that their continued poor performance could result in dire penalties, like being fired or replaced by a better team.

    • The AI in the latest video game features a minigame that challenges the player to walk the plank without falling off.

      In this example, the idiom is used in a novel and playful way, where it is incorporated into a virtual game environment, serving as a fun and exciting challenge to test the player's reflexes, balance, and nerve in a simulated but still thrilling scenario.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "walk the plank" can be used both to encourage someone to take a risk or face a challenge, as well as to playfully threaten someone with a consequence. It is often used in a lighthearted or humorous context, and can be a way to jokingly push someone out of their comfort zone or mockingly warn them of a consequence.

    Origin of "Walk the plank"

    The phrase "walk the plank" originates from the image of pirates forcing their captives to walk off a plank extending from the side of a ship into the sea. This act was meant to result in the captive falling into the water and possibly drowning. The phrase has been popularized in pirate lore and has since been used figuratively to convey a sense of imminent danger or punishment. The idiom has been further popularized in literature and media, contributing to its widespread use in modern English. For example, in adventure stories and films, characters are often threatened to "walk the plank" as a form of punishment.