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Glite Dictionary
to damn the torpedoes

to damn the torpedoes

1 9.9
To go ahead despite danger and warnings
  • idiom
  • NSFW
translation icon : ¡al diablo con los torpedos!
  • Damn the torpedoes, Randy, full speed ahead.
  • damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead
  • damn the torpedoes, full speed
  • damn the torpedoes, full

Examples

  • Damn the torpedoes!

    Jaws 2 (1978)

  • Of course, it was this very "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" approach that has caused so much political and now legal trouble for the White House.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes.

    Las Vegas Weekend (1986)

  • As another American hero said, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

    Blog text (8)

  • "Fight back and damn the torpedoes."

    Academic text (1996)

  • Now, it's straight ahead and damn the torpedoes.

    Blog text (21)

  • Full speed towards Goners and damn the torpedoes!

    Blog text (18)

  • -Damn the torpedoes!

    Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)

  • Damn the torpedoes!

    Jaws 2 (1978)

  • When faced with the challenges ahead, she decided to damn the torpedoes and move forward without hesitation.

Synonyms

to throw caution to the wind
vsto damn the torpedoes
  • Informal
7 7.3

Do something without worrying about the risks

is a bold determined choice that accepts risk rather than casual carelessness

Antonyms

to hesitate
318 2.5

To pause before saying or doing something because you feel unsure

retreat
93 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

How Reckless

to damn the torpedoes
  • NSFW
1 9.9
to go for broke
  • Informal
7 6.4
cautious
210 2.9

Surface Forms

damn the torpedoes infinitive

Morphology

damn + the + torpedo

The literal parts ('damn' + 'the' + 'torpedoes') clearly convey condemnation or dismissal of torpedoes, so a learner who knows the words could infer a sense of disregarding or rejecting the danger. However, the full idiomatic force — proceeding boldly or recklessly despite risk — and its pragmatic/historical nuance are not fully predictable from the words alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Damn the torpedoes comes from a famous story in the American Civil War when Admiral Farragut saw sea mines called torpedoes blocking his path. He told his ships to ignore the danger and move ahead, so the phrase now means 'to go forward despite great risk'.