hitting the deck
Sudden protective prostration
Hitting the deck means dropping quickly to the ground, typically to avoid danger like gunfire or an explosion: When the shots rang out, everyone hit the deck.
The phrase comes from naval terminology, where the deck is the floor of a ship.
It can also mean getting out of bed, especially early or energetically: We're hitting the deck at dawn tomorrow.
- crouchLow bent-knee stance
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- duckWaterbird that quacks
- duck and coverEmergency protective posture
take cover · collapse · evade · sprawl · floor · dive · hit the floor · drop down · fall flat · scramble · flinch · brace · slam · initiate · cover · shelter · energize · hustle
hitting the deckstanding tall
Remaining proudly upright
standing upright · standing up · rising up · getting up · standing at attention
hitting the deckhitting the sack
Going to bed
hitting the hay · turning in · going to bed · retiring · nodding off