maiden voyage

[vil]

Dear teachers,
Can you explain me "deeper" the meaning of the expression "maiden voyage"? Do you see any relation between a ship and an unmarried woman?

[Naamplao]

Originally Posted by vil

Dear teachers,
Can you explain me "deeper" the meaning of the expression "maiden voyage"? Do you see any relation between a ship and an unmarried woman?

Perhaps there is a distant relationship there. Ideally with respect to a woman. a "maiden" is someone who is not experienced sexually.

A "maiden voyage" is the first voyage a ship/plane/train makes. After that the ship is experienced so to speak. Similarly when a woman has sex for the first time (unmarried or not) she is no longer a maiden.

You sometimes hear the expression "he broke her maiden." This can refer to deflowering a virgin.

It can be used in horse racing slang too. Here a "maiden" is a horse that hasn't won a race. If a horse has "broken its maiden", it means it has finally won a race and therefore are not classified as a maiden

[vil]

Dear Naamplao, thank you for your responsiveness. Practice makes perfect. Yours argument were very lifelike and versatile. Thank you again.

[Soup]

Originally Posted by vil

Dear Naamplao, thank you for your responsiveness. Practice makes perfect. Yours argument were very lifelike and versatile. Thank you again.

I absolutely agree with you.

[Naamplao]

You are welcome

[BobK]

There is a related phrase used in the House of Parliament (and maybe other places). A 'maiden speech' is a politician's first.

b

[BobK]

Originally Posted by BobK

There is a related phrase used in the House of Parliament (and maybe other places). A 'maiden speech' is a politician's first.

b

Afterthought. When I explained 'maiden speech' I was thinking of giving a speech for the first time in one place (the House of Commons). In this morning's news I heard an example that shows that this phrase can be used to apply to a role, and not just in the Palace of Westminster. The news item referred to 'Gordon Brown's maiden speech as Prime Minister to the party conference'. That conference is not at Westminster, and he has given many speeches there over the last 10 years as Chancellor of the Exchequer [=highest-ranking finance minister].

b