What Does "Mary Celeste" Mean?
"Mary celeste" is an English idiom. It is a term that refers to something mysteriously abandoned or unexplained, originating from the name of a ship found deserted with no sign of its crew.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "mary celeste" used in a sentence:- The playground was a Mary Celeste, with toys scattered around but no children in sight.
- The car was left running, doors open, in a Mary Celeste situation.
- The office was like a Mary Celeste when I arrived, everything in place but not a person to be seen.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Mary Celeste" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "mary celeste" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?