Do you cuss like a sailor?

When did “cuss like a sailor” become a phrase people say? I’m 44-years-old and my first experience with a sailor was Popeye. If anything, I’d think a common phrase would be “eat spinach like a sailor,” because Popeye could put down some spinach! The next sailor that comes to mind is Jack Sparrow, who’s also a pirate, of course. If we’re going along with him as our example, the common phrase would be “drink like a sailor.” Actually, now that I type that out, I think that one actually is a thing people say.

I have no doubt that sailors (military, civilian, etc) probably cuss up a storm, especially in a storm and they’re trying to sail through it. But the same could be said about daily commuters. Getting stuck in rush hour traffic going to and coming from work will make anyone use profanity, even if it’s just under their breath. So why isn’t “cuss like a commuter” a popular phrase, with the same familiarity as the term “road rage”? Because I can almost guarantee you that where there is road rage, there is profanity.

If you have any insight into this piece of useless trivia, I’m all ears!

-Out of the Wilderness