sheet anchor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet, Jane — Tomalin calls her “the true heroine of this story” — remained the sheet anchor of his life, as well as his typist.
From Washington Post • Nov. 2, 2021
In summer he manages his two dairy farms, calls them "a sheet anchor against inflation."
From Time Magazine Archive
To a sheet anchor a stout hempen cable is generally bent, as lightening the strain at the bow, and being more elastic.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
This remembrance and impression is the sheet anchor of his steadfastness.
From The Portland Sketch Book by Various
Smiling grog is the sailor’s best hope, his sheet anchor, His compass, his cable, his log, That gives him a heart which life’s cares cannot canker.
From Jacob Faithful by Marryat, Frederick
