Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls off a Brass Monkey
It was quite literally, “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.” ❄️🐒
British slang for being absolutely freezing - “It’s brass monkeys out there.”
But would you believe
Brass Monkeys has maritime origins?
Back when ships relied on cannons for firepower, cannonballs were stored in neat pyramids on deck.
They were held in place on a brass tray with circular indentations – known as a monkey.
Here’s where it gets frosty:
Brass contracts more than iron in extreme cold.
So when temperatures dropped, the brass tray would shrink… and cannonballs would roll off, scattering across the deck like deadly marbles.
Fun Facts
The phrase appears in print in the 1800s.
By the mid-19th century, the expression was already being used in newspapers and sailor slang to describe extremely cold weather.
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The phrase became popular in the Royal Navy and merchant fleets.
Sailors loved exaggerated weather descriptions, and this one stuck.
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The origins are debated.
“Brass monkey” may come from Victorian slang, where it referred to a person’s backside…
Making the phrase a colourful way of describing bitter cold.
The Maritime Origins Series
Maritime Origins is a storytelling series created by Jason Nangle, Founder of Angle Recruitment, a global maritime recruitment and executive search firm.
The series explores the fascinating history behind everyday phrases that originated at sea, as well as the remarkable stories, traditions and characters that have shaped maritime culture.
Many sayings still used today were first spoken by sailors navigating the challenges of life on board ships. Alongside these phrase origins, the series also highlights lesser-known maritime stories, legends and historical moments from the world of shipping.
Through short stories and visual posts, Maritime Origins connects the language, heritage and traditions of seafarers with the modern maritime industry.
New posts in the series launch every Tuesday on LinkedIn and are then shared across other platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X. Follow
Jason Nangle on LinkedIn and Angle Recruitment across your preferred social platforms.
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