When a man blows his wad, at least two different things could have occurred: he either spent or lost all his money in a wager (his wad), or he spent or ejaculated his sperm (his wad). Thorne goes on to suggest that since at least the 1950s blow, in this context, is a euphemism for ejaculate.

‘It’s those tabloids!’ Conroy stamped his foot feebly as he blew his nose. ‘They’ve knocked me out. I used to be fit once.’

With the forespring holding the bow, the wash from the prop flowing over the rudder will push our stern out clear of the quay. Make sure there is a fender ready right forward because the bow will swing into the quay due to the pull of the forespring.

Nanny Broome was looking up at the outer wall. Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime.