all hands to the pumps

"I could see it was all hands to the pumps.

If it hadn't been for the war, they'd have retired him, but it was like everything else these days, all hands to the pumps.

Action stations, emergency, all hands to the pumps."

'The party is for the day after tomorrow - that's why it's all hands to the pumps.'

All hands to the pumps.

France will be all hands to the pumps and Wales could be a bit of a grudge match so we'll need the older hands.

It was all hands to the pumps, or the typewriters or the files or the photocopier, as appropriate.

Elsewhere at Ucas HQ it was all hands to the pumps as thousands of callers sought information and advice.

What happened - in a very short space of time and in the face of unprecedented events was that an 'all hands to the pumps' situation arose and people responded.

The small kernel of central truth here is the real speed and size of the slowdown in the US economy - and you don't go from robust good health to all hands to the pumps that quickly.

It was the second of Tuke's works to be purchased by Chantrey Bequest Fund for the Tate, following All Hands to the Pumps in 1889, an uncommon compliment to the artist.

All hands to the pumps: Top row, L to R: Pete Garnett (sitting), Judy Fraser (sitting), Jan Garnett, Neil Blenkinship, Iain Fraser, Lee Seymour, Paul Shufflebottom.