stand fast the holy ghost

Questions

What does stand fast the holy ghost mean?

A sailor's cry in response to the announcement of up spirits (the handing out of the daily rum ration).

Where does stand fast the holy ghost come from?

A punning retort to up spirits, since to stand fast is not to rise up, and spirit may refer to alcohol or to a ghost.

How to pronounce stand fast the holy ghost

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “stand fast the holy ghost”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “stand fast the holy ghost”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “stand fast the holy ghost” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.