Any port in a storm

For the album, see Any Port in a Storm.

Any port in a storm is a proverb that loosely means that when someone is in trouble they cannot wait for the perfect solution. The phrase has been used in popular culture and politics since at least 1749. The original meaning of this nautical phrase was that a ship at sea in rough weather had no choice of harbor for shelter.^[1]

"Any port in a storm" lithograph 1884 (Currier and Ives)

Etymology

The first known publication of the phrase was in a 1749 erotic novel: John Cleland's Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. The phrase, "Pooh!", says he "my dear, any port in a storm."^[2][3][4] The phrase "any port in a storm" was used to describe a private theatrical play hosted by Lord Eldon in 1809: it was reported in the Augusta Columbian Centinel.^[5] In 1841 the phrase became a political slogan for the Whig Party's Winfield Scott as a candidate for US president when party members were opposed to Henry Clay they said, "Give us any port in a storm."^[6] In 1908, the phrase appeared in a popular song composed by Kerry Mills and Arthur J. Lamb entitled "Any Old Port in a Storm".^[7]

Maritime law

Main article: Place of refuge for ships

It is widely believed that international maritime law allows mariners in distress to "lawfully seek shelter in the closest harbor, regardless of nationality". However, it is not clear that such a doctrine exists.^[8]

Popular culture

The metaphor is widely used, as in an episode of The Wire, "Port in a Storm".^[9] It is sometimes a play on words with port wine, as in an episode of Columbo.^[10] The variant "not just any port in a storm" has been used in a variety of contexts, including in reference to port wine.^[11]

See also

• List of proverbial phrases

References

1. Any port in a storm The Free Dictionary
2. Cleland, John (1888). Memoirs of Fanny Hill. Paris: Isadore Liseux. p. 245. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
3. Apperson, G. L. (2006). The Wordsworth dictionary of proverbs (New ed.). Ware, Herts.: Wordsworth Reference. p. 21. ISBN 978-1840223118. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
4. Manser, Martin H. (2002). The Facts on File dictionary of proverbs. New York: Facts on File. p. 9. ISBN 978-0816046072. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
5. "Private Theatrical". Augusta Columbian Centinel. 25 November 1809. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
6. "Any Port in a Storm". Ohio Democrat. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
7. Tyler, Don (2007). Hit songs, 1900-1955 : American popular music of the pre-rock era. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 978-0786429462. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
8. Murray, Christopher F. (2002). "Any Port in a Storm? The Right of Entry for Reasons of Force Majeure or Distress in the Wake of the Erika and the Castor" (PDF). Ohio State Law Journal. 63 (5): 1465–1506.
9. Brian Ford Sullivan (January 4, 2001). "The 50 Best Episodes of 2003: #20-11". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
10. "Columbo Any Old Port in a Storm". Columbo Phile. Columbo Phile. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
11. Fegan, Patrick W. (24 March 2004). "Not just any port in a storm". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 27 October 2022.