ship of state

noun

1. a nation or its affairs likened to a ship under sail.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ship of state¹

First recorded in 1665–75

Idioms and Phrases

The nation, as in We can't help but wonder who will be steering our ship of state a hundred years from now . This metaphoric expression was first recorded in English in a translation of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince (1675).

Example Sentences

So remember this: After whipsawing the nation through his dumb and vicious shitshow of a first term, nearly capsizing the ship of state by inciting thousands of morons to riot over the false premise that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from him, and becoming the first president in American history to be twice impeached, Donald Trump decided to run for president in 2024 primarily so that he might avoid facing punishment for his many alleged crimes.

From Slate

Calm captains of the ship of state struggle to navigate the world system’s waves and shoals.

From Los Angeles Times

Spain claims the San José is a "ship of state" as it belonged to the Spanish navy when it was sunk and its contents are protected under a UN convention Colombia is not party to.

From BBC

Most early mentions are riffs on the metaphor of the ship of state, with entire nations beating against the breeze, or come as puns in stories about airplanes or shipping companies.

From Los Angeles Times

His mission, he announces, is to ensure political stability, to right the ship of state, as he says in those now famous words.

From Salon