Summary
The expression originates from sailors who would literally jump off a vessel to escape danger or abandon service.
Key Points
3 points1
Definition: to quit or abandon a position or commitment.
2
Historical background: sailors jumping off ships in the past.
3
Modern usage: applied to any scenario where someone leaves abruptly.
New Words to Learn
3 wordsidiom
a common expression whose meaning is not obvious from the individual words
vessel
a boat or ship
abandon
to leave behind or give up
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