sailor's promise

noun

An unreliable promise or a pledge that is likely to be broken.

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Meanings

nounsailor's promise (plural sailor's promises)

plural sailor's promises

  1. idiomaticAn unreliable promise or a pledge that is likely to be broken.

Origin

Historically derived from the stereotype of sailors who might make grand vows or romantic promises in port before leaving on a voyage, never to return or follow through.

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Cite this entry
APA

sailor's promise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sailor's%20promise

MLA

“sailor's promise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sailor's%20promise. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sailor's promise,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sailor's%20promise.

Source: sailor's promise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.