Many employees jump ship when they find a better job.
jump ship
idiomTo suddenly leave or abandon a group, company, or situation you were committed to — often to escape one that's failing, or to take a better opportunity elsewhere.
Origin
The idiom comes from the seafaring world of the 18th and 19th centuries, where it literally meant deserting one's vessel without permission. Sailors would slip overboard near a harbour to escape brutal discipline, miserable conditions, or forced recruitment by the press gang.
By the late 19th and mid-20th centuries the phrase had passed into everyday figurative speech. Today it usually describes suddenly walking out on a team, company, or situation — especially to get clear of a sinking one or to chase a better opportunity.
The project was failing, so several team members decided to jump ship and join a different department.
As the company's stock prices began to fall, many senior executives chose to jump ship rather than stay and attempt to fix the internal problems.
Last updated June 7, 2026