davy jones's locker
LowLiterary/Idiomatic/Nautical
Definition
Meaning
The bottom of the sea, especially as the grave of those who drown or whose ships are lost.
A metaphorical term for death at sea or the final resting place for sunken ships and drowned sailors; often used in maritime contexts and pirate lore.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a personification (Davy Jones as a mythical spirit of the sea) and functions as a euphemism for drowning or shipwreck. It carries a historical, somewhat archaic flavor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use it identically as a fixed nautical idiom.
Connotations
Evocative of maritime history, sailing, and adventure literature. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British contexts due to its historical naval tradition.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech in both varieties. More common in historical fiction, pirate-themed media, and metaphorical use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject/Agent] + send/consign + [Object] + to Davy Jones's locker[Subject] + go down/end up + in Davy Jones's lockerVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sent to Davy Jones's locker”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical or literary studies of maritime culture.
Everyday
Very rare, used humorously or allusively (e.g., 'My phone fell in the pool and went to Davy Jones's locker.').
Technical
Not used in scientific oceanography; a literary/historical term only.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The frigate was Davy-Jones's-lockered during the storm.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The pirate ship sank. It went to Davy Jones's locker.
- Many old ships lie at the bottom of the ocean in Davy Jones's locker.
- The captain vowed not to let the enemy send his vessel to Davy Jones's locker without a fight.
- The maritime legend speaks of Davy Jones's locker as the final repository for sailors who perish at sea, a metaphor that romanticises a tragic fate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pirate named Davy Jones who owns a locker at the very bottom of the sea where he keeps all the sunken treasures and lost sailors.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SEA IS A PERSON (Davy Jones) / DEATH IS GOING TO A STORAGE PLACE (locker).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation ("локер Дэйви Джонса") as it would be meaningless. The established Russian equivalent is "морская пучина" or "царство Нептуна", though they lack the personified, folkloric nuance.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect apostrophe placement (Davy Jones' Locker is acceptable, but Davy Jones's Locker is more standard). Using it to refer to any deep water, not specifically as a grave/metaphor for death at sea.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'Davy Jones's Locker' be MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Davy Jones is a mythical, malevolent spirit of the sea, a personification of the ocean's dangers. His origins are folkloric and unclear.
No, it is a metaphorical and folkloric term for the bottom of the sea, particularly as a grave.
Yes, in modern informal contexts it can be used humorously to describe something lost or irretrievable in water (e.g., a dropped keys in a lake).
Both are accepted in modern English. 'Davy Jones's Locker' is slightly more common, but 'Davy Jones' Locker' is also widely used, especially in older texts.