Hope my ship comes in

[Debby]

What does "when my ship comes in" mean?

[derbyram]

QM, I'm timing you.

[derbyram]

Is QM not on today??

�When my ship comes in?� It�s a phrase about making a fortune. People would invest their money into a ship�s voyage. That money would pay for the crew, provisions, the ship, and the purchase of merchandise � often spices. The ship couldn�t make the voyage without that investment. If the journey were successful, the investors made a good profit.

[derbyram]

...but they only got paid when their ship came in (docked) and sold the merchandise.

[Quizmonster]

Obviously, Derby, I'm not too sure at what time you posted your reply - which is perfectly correct, of course - but it's 4.25 pm now.

A perfect illustration of the situation, Debby, is to be found in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. The failure of any of his ships - literally - to "come in" exposed Antonio to the forfeiture of his pound of flesh to Shylock.