Till the coast is clear?_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

Till the coast is clear?

Originally, you see, the “coast” in “the coast is clear” refers to the seaside beach, the coastline that is. This expression is said to have been popularized by pirates on the high seas. Each time they come back ashore with their loot, they have to see if the beaches are clear – that is, no patrol man or anyone else around to observe their wrongdoing.

If you have been to the sea, you’ll understand that the one thing we’re all impressed with the see is its open vista, a vast openness with endless water, sky and coastline. Hence, if the coast is clear, it means nobody’s around at all, far or near.

In other words, it’s very safe for everyone to proceed.

Take away the criminal connotations, and you’ll understand in our example, “the coast is clear” means pedestrians can walk across the street freely, unimpeded and in stride.

Again, not any time soon for pedestrians in Beijing’s rush hour traffic, but, never mind, we’ve gotten one more vivid expression under the belt.

All clear?

Alright, let’s proceed to media examples, all recent:

1. The police car turns off its flashing lights and drives up the Summit Connector. An unsuspecting student thinks the coast is clear and crosses, scurrying quickly across the road right past a sign warning jaywalkers will be ticketed.

“They’ll cross right where the sign is,” says Cpl. Brian O’Callaghan, conducting pedestrian safety enforcement at TRU this week in Kamloops. “It’s ironic.”