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It was observed early in the history of man's maritime achievements that rats would sense the sinking of a ship before anyone else would realize it and make for safety and land. They would appear out of the bilges and run across the decks in a thundering herd as the ship settled. The metaphor indicates that people are bailing on the situation like rats do when the ship sinks.

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Q: What does 'like rats leaving a sinking ship' mean?
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What does 'Rats desert a sinking ship' mean?

To leave something or someone when things get bad, they do not stick around to help.


How does the metaphor of The Rat trap serve to highlight the human predicament?

The author Selma Lagerlof tells a universal theme through all her stories. One can not imagine how dull and sad a vagabond might be walking slowly along the roads for his bread. The metaphor of the rattrap struck on one such occasion. He was plodding along the road, duly lost in his own meditations. The whole world about him- the whole world with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The world had never existed for any other purpose than to set baits for people to trap them. The world offered riches, joys, food, shelter and clothing like a bait offering cheese and pork in a rattrap for the rats. As soon as anyone is tempted and he to touches the bait, it closes on him and then everything came to an end for him in life. Like the poor rattrap seller, people get tempted to the pouch baits hung on the window frame, break the window pane and steal the kronor. For self-temptation people like the peddler don't want to undeceive others about themselves. The touching of the bait always makes people realize that they are caught in the world rattrap now. It is their turn now, they must stop cherish it as their pastime of thinking about the known who get trapped and others who ware circling around the trap. They must rise above the baits and shun evil doings like Captain Von Stahle.


Related questions

What actors and actresses appeared in Like Rats Leaving a Sinking Ship - 2012?

The cast of Like Rats Leaving a Sinking Ship - 2012 includes: Vika Kirchenbauer


What does 'like rats deserting a sinking ship' mean?

I think "rats" is likely to mean "coward" who run away when they have a problem. If some one, or some people run when difficulties arise, or when things get bad, they are compared to rats deserting a sinking ship. The rats only care for their own safety, and will not stay to help prevent the ship from sinking or to help others


Which animal do sailors say desert a sinking ship?

Rats desert a sinking ship.


What does 'Rats desert a sinking ship' mean?

To leave something or someone when things get bad, they do not stick around to help.


Do rats drown?

definetely rats can swim how else could they leave a sinking ship


What is the proverb of rdass?

Rats desert a sinking ship


How do you rewrite like rats on a sinking ship?

What exactly are you asking? Why would you want to rewrite it?Are you asking what the saying means?


What is a four letter word for ship deserter?

rats "Rats deserting a sinking ship" is a cliche.


Why do rats desert a sinking ship?

same reason humans do


Why do the rats need a decoy when they are leaving the rosebush?

I've finished reading the rats of nimh. It's amazing!? The rats need a decoy to avoid the gas to catch up to them or they will die.


What are neutra rats?

Do you mean "Nutria" rats? -check out wikipedia.


Do rats like pizza?

It is more likely that the rats like the cheese on the pizza.