on his watch
while he is in charge
TRANSLATION
on his watch = Unter seiner Regie, unter seiner Führung. --- Google Index on his watch = 427,000 hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
He is 82 years old, and his presidency is hardly a glorious memory. It was ON HIS WATCH that France's competitive position sharply declined. Jacques Chirac has emerged as an improbable icon of retro taste and a figure of public affection.
THe Economist
THe Economist
Did you
know?
on his watch
noun phrase
- while someone is on duty
(Cambridge Dictionary)
On his watch is a maritime expression, one of many that we have adopted into the English language over the centuries. On ships, both commercial freighters and warships, someone is always in charge of operating the vessel from the bridge.
It’s usually the captain or one of his officers. This is called "having the watch," in reference to monitoring the ship. When the "watch" changes hands, the new officer in charge announces, "I have the watch." The crew then knows who is running the ship.
The term "watch" stems from the Old English (1200) wæccan, as in one of the periods into which the night is divided. The Hebrews divided the night into three watches, the Greeks usually into four or five, the Romans (followed by the Jews in New Testament times) into four. The corresponding translations for watch were vigilia (Latin), phylake (Greek) and ashmoreth (Hebrew).
Other maritime expressions that you will find in everyday English include:
- at the helm = to be in charge or control of something (She has been at the helm of the company for two years)
- even keel = calm and stable (I hope they hire someone to take over the department who can keep it on an even keel)
- high and dry = without resources or help (Our partner unfortunately quit the project, leaving us high and dry)
- leeway = extra space or time (I always allow myself enough leeway between flights in case a flight gets delayed)
---
SYNONYMS
during his tenure, while in charge, during his reign, during his shift, while in command
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO A CONVERSATION TODAY:
Say something like:
"It was on my watch that hackers tried to break into into our server."
noun phrase
- while someone is on duty
(Cambridge Dictionary)
On his watch is a maritime expression, one of many that we have adopted into the English language over the centuries. On ships, both commercial freighters and warships, someone is always in charge of operating the vessel from the bridge.
It’s usually the captain or one of his officers. This is called "having the watch," in reference to monitoring the ship. When the "watch" changes hands, the new officer in charge announces, "I have the watch." The crew then knows who is running the ship.
The term "watch" stems from the Old English (1200) wæccan, as in one of the periods into which the night is divided. The Hebrews divided the night into three watches, the Greeks usually into four or five, the Romans (followed by the Jews in New Testament times) into four. The corresponding translations for watch were vigilia (Latin), phylake (Greek) and ashmoreth (Hebrew).
Other maritime expressions that you will find in everyday English include:
- at the helm = to be in charge or control of something (She has been at the helm of the company for two years)
- even keel = calm and stable (I hope they hire someone to take over the department who can keep it on an even keel)
- high and dry = without resources or help (Our partner unfortunately quit the project, leaving us high and dry)
- leeway = extra space or time (I always allow myself enough leeway between flights in case a flight gets delayed)
---
SYNONYMS
during his tenure, while in charge, during his reign, during his shift, while in command
---
SMUGGLE OWAD INTO A CONVERSATION TODAY:
Say something like:
"It was on my watch that hackers tried to break into into our server."
