Shiver my timbers (sometimes pronounced “shiver me timbers”) is an exclamation in the form of a mock oath usually attributed to the speech of pirates in works of fiction. It is employed as a literary device by authors to express shock, surprise or annoyance. The phrase is based on real nautical slang and is a reference to the timbers of a sailing ship in heavy seas, when the ship would be lifted up and pounded down so hard as to “shiver” the timbers, shaking sailors to the bones. Such an exclamation was meant to convey a feeling of fear and awe, similar to, “Well Blow Me Down!”, or, “May God Strike Me Dead”. Shiver is also reminiscent of the splintering of a ship’s timbers in battle – splinter wounds were a common form of battle injury on wooden ships (‘shiver’ means splinter in some English dialects).

1. shiver me timbers

An exclamation, of surprise or otherwise. This phrase originated from when the water or a canon would hit the ship, and the ship would shake. Hence, shivering, and timbers being the actual ship.

Shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat! Get out of me rum!

tags pirate surprise ship canon wood timber shake shiver bilge rat

2. shiver me timbers

Pirate for “shake my bones”. Used during times of crises like, bad storms, pillaging gone wrong or seeing an ugly wench. Generally a non-wuss way of saying “I’m a-scared!”

Well shiver me timbers, that wench is makin’ my zemmiphobia flair up, yarrrg!!!

tags fear scared bones zemmiphobia wench

3. shiver me timbers

An exclamation, of surprise or otherwise. This phrase originated from when the water or a canon would hit the ship, and the ship would shake. Hence, shivering, and timbers being the actual ship.

Shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat! Get out of me rum!

If we rely should give an answer to this one then

Just For You check the Links below …

Love Always