How to Pronounce "rats abandon a sinking ship"
expression
RATS uh-BAN-duhn uh SIN-king SHIP
rats uh-BAN-duhn uh SIN-king SHIP
Definition
This saying means that when a situation becomes bad or hopeless, people who are only loyal for their own benefit quickly leave or abandon it. It's used to criticize those who escape problems instead of facing them.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɹæts/ /əˈbændən/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ /ˈʃɪp
British English
ɹˈæts/ /ɐbˈændən/ /æɪ/ /sˈɪŋkɪŋ/ /ʃˈɪp
Simplified Pronunciation
US
RATS uh-BAN-duhn uh SIN-king SHIP
UK
rats uh-BAN-duhn uh SIN-king SHIP
Listen in Context
When the company started failing, rats abandon a sinking ship.
Some workers left early, just like rats abandon a sinking ship.
People often say rats abandon a sinking ship when a team is losing.
When news of the scandal broke, top executives quickly resigned—rats abandon a sinking ship, right?