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{{For|the album|Any Port in a Storm}} |
{{For|the album|Any Port in a Storm}} |
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[[File:Any port in a storm LCCN90708639.tif|thumb|"Any port in a storm" lithograph 1884 ([[Currier and Ives]])]] |
[[File:Any port in a storm LCCN90708639.tif|thumb|"Any port in a storm" lithograph 1884 ([[Currier and Ives]])]] |
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'''Any port in a storm''' is a proverb that loosely means that when someone is in trouble they cannot wait for the perfect solution. The phrase has been used in popular culture and politics since 1749. The original meaning of this nautical phrase was that a ship at sea in rough weather had no choice of harbor for shelter.<ref>[https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/any+port+in+a+storm Any port in a storm] [[The Free Dictionary]]</ref> |
'''Any port in a storm''' is a proverb that loosely means that when someone is in trouble they cannot wait for the perfect solution. The phrase has been used in popular culture and politics since at least 1749. The original meaning of this nautical phrase was that a ship at sea in rough weather had no choice of harbor for shelter.<ref>[https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/any+port+in+a+storm Any port in a storm] [[The Free Dictionary]]</ref> |
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==Etymology== |
==Etymology== |
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The first known publication of the phrase was in a 1749 [[erotic novel]]: [[John Cleland]]'s ''[[Fanny Hill|Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure]]''. The phrase, "Pooh!", says he "my dear, any port in a storm."<ref name="Cleland">{{cite book |last1=Cleland |first1=John |title=Memoirs of Fanny Hill |date=1888 |publisher=Isadore Liseux |location=Paris |page=245 |url=https:// |
The first known publication of the phrase was in a 1749 [[erotic novel]]: [[John Cleland]]'s ''[[Fanny Hill|Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure]]''. The phrase, "Pooh!", says he "my dear, any port in a storm."<ref name="Cleland">{{cite book |last1=Cleland |first1=John |title=Memoirs of Fanny Hill |date=1888 |publisher=Isadore Liseux |location=Paris |page=245 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJAZAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Pooh!%22,+says+he+%22my+dear,+any+port+in+a+storm.%22&pg=PA245 |access-date=28 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="Apperson">{{cite book |last1=Apperson |first1=G. L. |title=The Wordsworth dictionary of proverbs |date=2006 |publisher=Wordsworth Reference |location=Ware, Herts. |isbn=978-1840223118 |page=21 |edition=New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PMZJqSR4sAC&dq=proverb+Any+port+in+a+storm&pg=PA21 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Manser">{{cite book |last1=Manser |first1=Martin H. |title=The Facts on File dictionary of proverbs |date=2002 |publisher=[[Facts on File]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0816046072 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&dq=proverb+Any+port+in+a+storm&pg=PA9 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> The phrase "any port in a storm" was used to describe a private theatrical play hosted by [[Lord Eldon]] in 1809: it was reported in the ''[[Columbian Centinel|Augusta Columbian Centinel]]''.<ref name="Theatrical">{{cite news |title=Private Theatrical |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-25-1809-3399677/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=[[Columbian Centinel|Augusta Columbian Centinel]]|date=25 November 1809}}</ref> In 1841 the phrase became a political slogan for the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]]'s [[Winfield Scott]] as a candidate for US president when party members were opposed to [[Henry Clay]] they said, "Give us any port in a storm."<ref name="Scott">{{cite news |title=Any Port in a Storm |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-25-1841-3399652/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=[[Ohio Community Media|Ohio Democrat]]}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In 1908, the phrase appeared in a popular song composed by [[Kerry Mills]] and [[Arthur J. Lamb]] entitled "[[Any Old Port in a Storm]]".<ref name="Tyler">{{cite book |last1=Tyler |first1=Don |title=Hit songs, 1900-1955 : American popular music of the pre-rock era |date=2007 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] |location=Jefferson, N.C. |isbn=978-0786429462 |page=39 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hSCfBQAAQBAJ&dq=any+old+port+in+a+storm+song&pg=PA39 |access-date=28 August 2022}}</ref> |
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== Maritime law == |
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| ⚫ | In 1908, the phrase appeared in a popular song composed by [[Kerry Mills]] and [[Arthur J. Lamb]] entitled "[[Any Old Port in a Storm]]".<ref name="Tyler">{{cite book |last1=Tyler |first1=Don |title=Hit songs, 1900-1955 : American popular music of the pre-rock era |date=2007 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]] |location=Jefferson, N.C. |isbn=978-0786429462 |page=39 |url=https:// |
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{{main|Place of refuge for ships}} |
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It is widely believed that international maritime law allows mariners in distress to "lawfully seek shelter in the closest harbor, regardless of nationality". However, it is not clear that such a doctrine exists.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Murray |first=Christopher F. |date=2002 |title=Any Port in a Storm? The Right of Entry for Reasons of ''Force Majeure'' or Distress in the Wake of the ''Erika'' and the ''Castor'' |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159574459.pdf |journal=[[Ohio State Law Journal]] |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=1465–1506}}</ref> |
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==Popular culture== |
==Popular culture== |
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The metaphor is widely used, as in an episode of ''The Wire'', "[[Port in a Storm]]".<ref>{{cite web |author=Brian Ford Sullivan |date=January 4, 2001 |title=The 50 Best Episodes of 2003: #20-11 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/reviews/2004/01/15/the-50-best-episodes-of-2003-number-20-11-16377/20040115_bestof2003/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref> It is sometimes a play on words with [[port wine]], as in an episode of ''[[Columbo]].''<ref name="Columbo">{{cite web |date=24 September 2017 |title=Columbo Any Old Port in a Storm |url=https://columbophile.com/2017/09/24/episode-review-columbo-any-old-port-in-a-storm/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Columbo Phile |publisher=[[Columbo|Columbo Phile]]}}</ref> The variant "not just any port in a storm" has been used in a variety of contexts, including in reference to [[port wine]].<ref name="Fegan">{{cite news |last1=Fegan |first1=Patrick W. |title=Not just any port in a storm |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-03-24-0403240084-story.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=24 March 2004}}</ref> |
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The phrase has become a colloquialism in the 21st century with news services using it in articles.<ref name="Daily Maverick">{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Tim |title=Any port in a storm, but please not in South Africa |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-08-25-any-port-in-a-storm-but-please-not-in-south-africa/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=[[Daily Maverick]] |date=25 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="Spence">{{cite news |last1=Spence |first1=William L. |title=Creating a port in a child care storm |url=https://news.yahoo.com/creating-port-child-care-storm-122700133.html |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=[[Lewiston Tribune]] |date=26 August 2022}}</ref><ref name="House">{{cite news |last1=Lowe |first1=Sam |title=Any Port In A Storm? The Future For Freeports |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/any-port-in-a-storm-the-future-for-freeports-explained |access-date=28 August 2022 |work=[[The House Magazine]] |date=31 March 2022}}</ref> The phrase was used as the title of an album by the musical group the [[Dirty Heads]]: ''[[Any Port in a Storm]]''.<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web|last=Raper|first=Dan|title=Music: The Dirty Heads - 'Any Port in a Storm' |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/the-dirty-heads-any-port-in-a-storm/|work=[[PopMatters]]|accessdate=28 August 2022|date=September 17, 2008}}</ref> A variation of the phrase was the title of an episode of the [[HBO]] show ''The Wire'', "[[Port in a Storm]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/reviews/2004/01/15/the-50-best-episodes-of-2003-number-20-11-16377/20040115_bestof2003/|title=The 50 Best Episodes of 2003: #20-11|newspaper=[[The Futon Critic]]|author=Brian Ford Sullivan|date=January 4, 2001|access-date=28 August 2022}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{Wiktionary}} |
{{Wiktionary}} |
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{{Fanny Hill}} |
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[[Category:Proverbs]] |
[[Category:Proverbs]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:29, 18 March 2023
Any port in a storm is a proverb that loosely means that when someone is in trouble they cannot wait for the perfect solution. The phrase has been used in popular culture and politics since at least 1749. The original meaning of this nautical phrase was that a ship at sea in rough weather had no choice of harbor for shelter.[1]
Etymology
[edit]The first known publication of the phrase was in a 1749 erotic novel: John Cleland's Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. The phrase, "Pooh!", says he "my dear, any port in a storm."[2][3][4] The phrase "any port in a storm" was used to describe a private theatrical play hosted by Lord Eldon in 1809: it was reported in the Augusta Columbian Centinel.[5] In 1841 the phrase became a political slogan for the Whig Party's Winfield Scott as a candidate for US president when party members were opposed to Henry Clay they said, "Give us any port in a storm."[6] In 1908, the phrase appeared in a popular song composed by Kerry Mills and Arthur J. Lamb entitled "Any Old Port in a Storm".[7]
Maritime law
[edit]It is widely believed that international maritime law allows mariners in distress to "lawfully seek shelter in the closest harbor, regardless of nationality". However, it is not clear that such a doctrine exists.[8]
Popular culture
[edit]The metaphor is widely used, as in an episode of The Wire, "Port in a Storm".[9] It is sometimes a play on words with port wine, as in an episode of Columbo.[10] The variant "not just any port in a storm" has been used in a variety of contexts, including in reference to port wine.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Any port in a storm The Free Dictionary
- ^ Cleland, John (1888). Memoirs of Fanny Hill. Paris: Isadore Liseux. p. 245. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Apperson, G. L. (2006). The Wordsworth dictionary of proverbs (New ed.). Ware, Herts.: Wordsworth Reference. p. 21. ISBN 978-1840223118. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ Manser, Martin H. (2002). The Facts on File dictionary of proverbs. New York: Facts on File. p. 9. ISBN 978-0816046072. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Private Theatrical". Augusta Columbian Centinel. 25 November 1809. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Any Port in a Storm". Ohio Democrat. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Tyler, Don (2007). Hit songs, 1900-1955 : American popular music of the pre-rock era. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 978-0786429462. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Murray, Christopher F. (2002). "Any Port in a Storm? The Right of Entry for Reasons of Force Majeure or Distress in the Wake of the Erika and the Castor" (PDF). Ohio State Law Journal. 63 (5): 1465–1506.
- ^ Brian Ford Sullivan (January 4, 2001). "The 50 Best Episodes of 2003: #20-11". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Columbo Any Old Port in a Storm". Columbo Phile. Columbo Phile. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Fegan, Patrick W. (24 March 2004). "Not just any port in a storm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
Look up any port in a storm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.