Talk:piss up a rope

Piss up a rope...

I have a nautically based "belief" as to the origin of this phrase that relates to the days of sailing ships and the "ropes" (lines) used to maneuver the sails. There are a couple of instances aboard such ships when this action and phrase could actually come in handy; 1. when sailing in dry climates, the hemp ropes (lines) would become less supple and more brittle therefore subject to more wear, so moistening them with urine (thanks to the copious amounts of beer consumed aboard British ships) would help improve their flexibility and prolong their useable life.; 2. in the opposite situation, involving stormy hazardous weather, it was too dangerous on deck to attempt to piss overboard, so by holding on to a mast stay or coiled ropes (lines) that were not in use, a sailor could relieve himself without risking being swept overboard. R.F.Rambo, LCDR USNR-Ret. 2601:601:CD00:2640:F7F1:6A32:4EDE:7A3A 01:56, 10 January 2023 (UTC)