What Does “desert a sinking ship” mean?
Definition:
The phrase desert a sinking ship means to stop being involved in a situation because failure is imminent.
Like rats deserting a sinking ship is a related phrase. The reference to rats can be explained by the fact that they are reported to be the first ones to flee a sinking ship or a min where there is a gas leak. The idea is that if rats leave a mine or a ship, it’s wise to follow.
Example(s)
She knew it was time to desert a sinking ship because she had read all the reports about the catastrophic financial situation of the company.
This idiom is in the travel category.
