the captain goes down with the ship

proverb

A leader is ultimately responsible for the penalities of a catastrophe, even if they result from external causes or the misactions of others under the leader's purview.

Similar
the buck stops here
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Meanings

proverb
  1. A leader is ultimately responsible for the penalities of a catastrophe, even if they result from external causes or the misactions of others under the leader's purview.

    Synonyms: the buck stops here

Synonyms & antonyms

proverbA leader is ultimately responsible for the penalities of a catastrophe, even if they result from external causes or the misactions of others under the leader's purview.

Similar
the buck stops here

Origin

From the maritime tradition that a sea captain holds ultimate responsibility for both their ship and everyone embarked on it, and in an emergency will either save those on board or die trying.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French le capitaine sombre avec son navire
  • le capitaine sombre avec son navirea leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
German der Kapitän geht als Letzter von Bord
  • der Kapitän geht als Letzter von Borda leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
Italian il comandante affonda con la nave
  • il comandante affonda con la navea leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
Polish kapitan idzie na dno razem ze statkiem
  • kapitan idzie na dno razem ze statkiema leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
Russian капитан покидает корабль последним
  • капитан покидает корабль последним (kapitan pokidajet korablʹ poslednim)a leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
Spanish el capitán se hunde con su barco
  • el capitán se hunde con su barcoa leader is ultimately responsible for the penalties of a catastrophe
Cite this entry
APA

the captain goes down with the ship. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20captain%20goes%20down%20with%20the%20ship

MLA

“the captain goes down with the ship.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20captain%20goes%20down%20with%20the%20ship. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the captain goes down with the ship,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20captain%20goes%20down%20with%20the%20ship.

Source: the captain goes down with the ship on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.