leave the dock

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave the dock" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to depart or set sail from a dock or pier. Example: The ship was scheduled to leave the dock at 9 am, but due to mechanical issues, it was delayed until noon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Unlike Mr. Bedard's houseboat, the Karpf's boat can leave the dock.

The New York Times

Harper was allowed to leave the dock in the courtroom but ordered not to leave the building.

The Guardian - Business

Now, we are told, warships are to be built and mothballed before they ever leave the dock.

The Guardian

Boats are entirely yours during your stay, but, as above, you're not allowed to leave the dock.

The Guardian - Travel

Judge Hughes told Mr McDonald he was free to leave the dock and after the footballer exited the court, shouts of "No, no" could be heard from Evans's family and friends.

Independent

Haries, who appeared in a grey suit, purple tie and white and purple striped shirt, was told he could leave the dock and sit at the back of the court room when representing himself.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

On Monday morning, we were the 46th boat to leave the docks at the marina, give or take a boat.

The New York Times - Travel

But is enough being done to give would-be asylum seekers meaningful options before they leave the docks?

The Guardian - Opinion

The export quotas China continues to impose on rare earths, even when it does let ships leave the docks, are restricting global supplies and causing world market prices to soar far beyond what Chinese companies pay.

The New York Times

"This ship has left the dock," he said.

The New York Times

RowBoat does not return until the boat has left the dock.

University of California, Berkeley

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leave the dock", ensure the context clearly indicates a vessel departing from a docking area. This phrase is straightforward and best used in descriptive or narrative writing.

Common error

Avoid using "leave the dock" metaphorically if the audience may not immediately grasp the nautical reference. In non-nautical contexts, consider more common expressions like "abandon the project" or "depart from the plan."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leave the dock" is a verb phrase, acting as the predicate in a sentence. It describes the action of a watercraft departing from a docking location. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave the dock" is a common and grammatically correct expression that describes the action of a vessel departing from a docking point, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's frequently found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts. While its register is typically neutral, its usage should be contextually appropriate, especially in non-nautical scenarios. When a different nuance is required, alternatives such as "set sail from the dock" or ""depart from the dock"" offer slight variations in meaning. Remember to consider the audience and context to ensure clarity and avoid potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set sail from the dock

Focuses on the act of beginning a voyage.

depart from the dock

Emphasizes the action of leaving.

pull away from the dock

Highlights the motion of moving away.

push off from the dock

Suggests a manual effort in starting the departure.

weigh anchor and depart

More formal, referring to the hoisting of the anchor before leaving.

cast off from the dock

Implies releasing ropes to allow departure.

get underway from the dock

Refers to the process of starting a sea journey.

sail away from the dock

Emphasizes the sailing aspect of leaving.

move out from the dock

A more general way of describing the departure.

exit the dock

Simply refers to going out of the dock.

FAQs

How is "leave the dock" used in a sentence?

You can use "leave the dock" in sentences such as: "The ferry is scheduled to "depart from the dock" at noon." or "Make sure all passengers are onboard before we "leave the harbor"."

What's a simple way to explain what "leave the dock" means?

"Leave the dock" simply means to depart or set sail from a docking point. It indicates the beginning of a voyage or journey by water.

What can I say instead of "leave the dock"?

You can use alternatives like "set sail from the dock", ""depart from the dock"", or "pull away from the dock" depending on the context.

Is "leaving the dock" the same as "leave the dock"?

Yes, "leaving the dock" is the present participle form of the verb phrase "leave the dock". Both refer to the same action of departing from a docking point; the difference lies in the tense and grammatical structure of the sentence.