All hands on deck

Meaning

Every available person must help to accomplish an urgent task.

Usage

Used when a group must collaborate quickly under pressure.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Naval command putting every sailor to work on deck.

Shifted into business and emergency language in the 19th century.