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Three sheets

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pussyfoot | 18:27 Thu 29th Mar 2007 | Phrases & Sayings
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Where do we get the saying 'Three sheets to the wind'
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Its an old sailing term ...if your sheets i.e sails are out of control ...
in nautical terms a sheet is the rope that holds the sails . hope this will help
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/16/me ssages/720.html
A popular quiz question used to be:

"How many ropes on a sailing vessel?"

The answer was - one, the bell rope, i.e. the rope on the
clapper of the ship's bell. All the others are sheets, stays, halyards, shrouds etc etc.

-- answer removed --
As above the Sheets are the ropes that hold the sails. If they are not tied the the sails will flap and be innefective, hence, 3 sheets to the wind.

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