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“Any port in a storm”: meaning, origin and examples

Any port in a storm

What it means

The phrase Any port in a storm means that during difficult or desperate situations, a person must accept any solution or refuge, even if it is not ideal.

Tone Pragmatic and accepting

Where it comes from

The phrase is nautical in origin, referring to a ship seeking refuge in any available harbor during a storm, regardless of how suitable it is.

Examples

  • When the hotel she usually stayed at was fully booked, she decided to stay at a roadside motel instead, reasoning that it was any port in a storm.
  • He didn’t particularly like the idea of working for the smaller company, but given the circumstances, it was any port in a storm.

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