# victory at sea

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/victory-at-sea
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Ocean conditions that are very windblown and messy, possibly to the point of being inimical to surfing and other watersports.

## Examples

- The waves are too big today, it is a total victory at sea.
- We planned to go surfing this morning, but the wind created a victory at sea that kept us on the beach.
- The seasoned captain refused to leave the harbor, warning the crew that the storm had transformed the bay into a chaotic victory at sea.

## Origin

Reputed to refer to the wind-blown rolling seas in the movie and television series Victory at Sea.

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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.