not our ship

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not our ship" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something does not belong to or is not associated with the speaker or their group, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "When it comes to the decision-making process, that's not our ship to steer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"But not our ship".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It's not our fault — because we just ship the Android one — but it's our problem".

TechCrunch

Not long after the action our ship, just like the Arctic Sunrise, was boarded and impounded.

The Guardian

While you may not understand the coordinates steering our ship (just as many gay people cannot understand yours), you can certainly identify with the unassailable wind blowing the sails.

Huffington Post

The ships around us were hit but for some reason the bomb that dropped on our ship didn't explode and we were saved.

The Guardian

During the 7 months of winter we don't receive visits from our ships or aircraft and therefore don't get mail.

Science Magazine

"The area the ship was taken in is not where the focus of our ships have been," a US navy official said.

The Guardian

"The world is never ready for the birth of a child," she writes, and goes on: Our ships are not yet back from Winland We still have to get over the S. Gothard pass We've got to outwit the watchmen on the desert of Thor Fight our way through the sewers to Warsaw's center… But the child, arrives anyway, and she wishes that: May delivery be easy, may our child grow and be well.

The New Yorker

Most of our clients are targeting Europe and other markets and because of the litigation, they didn't want to ship our products into the U.S. market".

TechCrunch

The way software works in this market is that the box doesn't actually ship with our software in it.

Forbes

Allocation by the number of ships does not permit a ship to work on different lines.

Journal of Shipping and Trade

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not our ship" when you want to metaphorically express that something is outside your group's control, responsibility, or ownership. It subtly implies a shared journey or purpose, even while disclaiming involvement.

Common error

Avoid using "not our ship" in literal contexts where a simple denial of ownership would suffice. The phrase carries a nuance of shared context that is lost if applied to unrelated objects or situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not our ship" primarily functions as a declarative phrase, used to express a disclaimer of ownership, responsibility, or control. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and usable. The example illustrates its use in negating association with a specific vessel.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not our ship" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for disclaiming ownership, responsibility, or control. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, though the phrase appears relatively infrequently in published sources. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to create distance between the speaker and a specific entity, metaphorically suggesting a lack of involvement in a shared journey or context. While alternatives like "not our concern" or "not our responsibility" can be used, "not our ship" provides a nuanced implication of shared context combined with a denial of responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it doesn't belong to us

Focuses on the lack of ownership.

not our concern

Shifts focus from a specific object (ship) to a general matter of interest.

not our responsibility

Emphasizes lack of duty or obligation.

not our problem

Highlights a lack of direct negative consequences for the speaker.

not our jurisdiction

Indicates a lack of authority or control over the matter.

not affiliated with us

Clarifies a lack of formal connection or association.

we have no part in this

Explicitly denies involvement or participation.

this is outside our scope

Specifies that the matter falls beyond the defined boundaries of responsibility or activity.

we are not involved

Directly states a lack of participation.

that's their business

Deflects attention and indicates that the matter is someone else's concern.

FAQs

What does "not our ship" mean?

The phrase "not our ship" metaphorically means something is not our responsibility, concern, or within our control. It implies a shared journey or context, but a disavowal of involvement.

When is it appropriate to use "not our ship"?

It's appropriate when discussing something related to your group or context, but you wish to disclaim responsibility or involvement. It suggests a connection exists, but the issue lies outside your purview.

What can I say instead of "not our ship"?

You can use alternatives like "not our concern", "not our responsibility", or "not our problem" depending on the context.

Is "not our ship" grammatically correct?

Yes, "not our ship" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English grammar rules for negation and possession.