Nautical Phrases in Everyday Use

There are an inordinate amount of nautical phrases in everyday use.  Here are just a few:

Faffing About

One of my favourite expressions is often used whilst waiting for slow children (now in their 20’s but still slow!) to hurry up and leave the house.  This was a term used to describe the wind when it blew in flaws.  A flaw is an unexpected gust of wind.  It was said to faff about and thus faffing about is used to describe aimless behaviour.