IdiomTopic: colours

nail your colours to the mast

/ˌneɪl jə ˈkʌləz tə ðə ˈmɑːst/NEUTRAL · C2

Meaning

to say publicly and firmly what you believe or support

Examples

1Before the vote, Aisha nailed her colours to the mast and backed the new park.
2The head teacher has nailed his colours to the mast on shorter school days.
3Most of the committee stayed quiet, but Ben nailed his colours to the mast and said he supported the plan.
4It's time to nail your colours to the mast: are you for the new timetable or against it?
5Residents want a clear answer, but will any councillor nail their colours to the mast on parking?

Grammar

Only nail changes: nailed, nailing. your changes to match the subject: my, his, their.

More idioms about colours

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

out of the bluecompletely unexpectedly once in a blue moonvery rarely a white liea small untruth told to avoid hurting someone green with envyvery jealous of what someone else has see redto suddenly become very angry with flying coloursvery successfully, especially in a test

English Idioms

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