Phrase guide

sea legs

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The ability, when walking aboard a ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to walk steadily without losing balance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • to get/find one's sea legs

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The ability to travel by ship without becoming seasick.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Synonym of crab sticks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, plural, plural-only, rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: crab sticks

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The ability to partially or fully inhabit a marine environment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: merijalat — ability to walk steadily aboard
  • French: pied marin — ability to walk steadily aboard
  • Norwegian Bokmål: sjøbein — ability to walk steadily aboard
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: sjøbein — ability to walk steadily aboard
  • Polish: dobre samopoczucie na statku — ability not to become seasick