Meanings
- idiomaticOne makes or comes into possession of a significant amount of money.
He is heir to some property and prefers to loaf at saloons until his ship comes in. In the meantime, the wife's parents practically support her and her children.
1915, Humane Advocate, page 8771 more example
I often wish I had the money the eggs and chickens bring; but, when I say so, father answers I shall when his ship comes in. When I was younger, I really thought he owned a ship, which would one day come into port.
1871, The Family treasury of Sunday reading, ed. by A. Cameron (W. Arnot), page 381 - idiomaticOne is successful.
Origin
Merchants used to send goods abroad on ships to be sold, receiving the money when the ships returned.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
one's ship comes in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20ship%20comes%20in
“one's ship comes in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20ship%20comes%20in. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one's ship comes in,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one's%20ship%20comes%20in.
Source: one's ship comes in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.