Meaning & Origin

“All hands on deck” is a call for everyone available to help immediately — used when a task is urgent or critical. The phrase comes from sailing, where the entire crew (“hands”) had to come up on deck during emergencies or major maneuvers.

Pronunciation Guide

• all — vowel like “awl.”
• hands — clear “d” sound.
• on deck — “deck” rhymes with “neck.”
• Natural rhythm: ALL HANDS on DECK.

Usage & Sentence Examples

Use it when immediate, collective effort is required.

• The storm knocked out power — all hands on deck for neighbors who need help.
• The restaurant is slammed; it’s all hands on deck in the kitchen.
• Finals week means all hands on deck at the library.
• The site went down — it’s all hands on deck until traffic is back.
• Moving day is all hands on deck: boxes, truck, and cleanup.
• When the puppy slipped outside, it was all hands on deck to find her.

Synonyms

everyone pitch in · rally the team · all‑out effort · mobilize everyone · the whole crew · call in reinforcements