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Bare Poles

What Does "Bare Poles" Mean?

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"Bare poles" is an English idiom. It means "a ship with no sails set, especially during a storm to reduce the effects of the wind."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "bare poles" used in a sentence:
  • During the storm, the ship ran with bare poles to avoid damage.
  • Seeing a ship with bare poles gave a clear indication of the rough seas ahead.
  • The captain ordered bare poles as the hurricane approached.
meaning for bare poles

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 "Bare Poles" 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.

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