Sailors' cry (5-2) Crossword Clue
Answer: HEAVE HO (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Sailors' cry (5-2)" with 7 letters is "HEAVE HO".Heave ho is a traditional sailors' cry used to coordinate effort when lifting or moving heavy objects, often shouted in unison to provide rhythm and strength during physical labor on ships. It has since become a popular phrase representing collective effort or enthusiasm.
Why “Heave Ho” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (5-2) meaning “sailors' cry.” The answer, HEAVE HO, fits exactly:
- Sailors' cry: Heave ho is the traditional cry of sailors used to coordinate effort when hauling ropes, anchors, or sails on a ship.
- Direct match: With enumeration (5-2), heave ho matches the clue structure perfectly.
- Precise usage: It directly identifies a nautical phrase associated with teamwork and effort at sea.
The phrase heave ho is steeped in maritime tradition:
- Origin and usage: First recorded in the 16th century, “heave” means to pull or haul with force, while “ho” is an exclamation to time the exertion.
- Contexts: Associated with ship crews working in unison, calling “heave ho!” as they hauled heavy objects aboard. Today, the phrase is also used figuratively to mean forceful removal or dismissal (“He got the old heave-ho”).
- Examples: “The sailors shouted ‘heave ho!’ as they raised the anchor,” or “He gave his broken shoes the heave-ho.”
Quick crossword clues like “sailors’ cry (5-2)” point to set idiomatic expressions:
- Alternatives such as “yo-ho” (2,2) might cross a solver’s mind, but those don’t fit either the enumeration or the traditional role of coordinating effort.
- The (5-2) structure signals an established phrase, directly leading to heave ho.
- Its maritime heritage and common figurative use make heave ho the correct solution.
