lash oneself to the mast

Meaning

Verb

• To continue in a course of action even when facing great difficulties and likely disaster.
• To resist the temptation to make a bad choice.

Origin

• From the practice of tying oneself to the mast of a sailing ship in rough weather so as not to be swept overboard.
• A reference to the scene in Homer's Odyssey in which Odysseus has his men lash him to the mast so that he will not succumb to the lure of the Sirens.