# deep six

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/deep-six
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To discard, get rid of, or cancel; to completely put an end to something.

## Examples

- We decided to deep six the old project.
- The manager told us to deep six the marketing plan because it was too expensive.
- The director had to deep six the final scene of the movie because the lead actor refused to perform the dangerous stunt.
- After the board reviewed the failing quarterly results, they voted to deep six the entire initiative to save the company.

## Origin

Attested as a noun by 1929, the term likely originates from the nautical cry "by the deep six," used when a sounding line recorded a depth of six fathoms. At thirty-six feet, the water was considered sufficiently deep to ensure that anything thrown overboard would remain unrecoverable. The transition to a verb, signifying the act of discarding or destroying something, is recorded from the 1950s. A secondary, though unproven, theory suggests the phrase may refer to the traditional six-foot depth of a grave. Whether the destination is the seabed or the cemetery, the distance remains the same: six units of measurement intended to keep the contents from resurfacing. (disputed)

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.