Saying

[horselady]

Came across a saying today that i've never heard before it 's "he swam in the sea of diamonds" does anyone have any idea what it means? Does it mean someone who is very bright?

[swedeheart]

Dunno horselady, I've never heard the expression. When you google it, it comes up as an example of what a metaphor is but isn't further explained.

All I can tell you is there's a song by Sonic Youth called Diamond Sea. Make what you will of the lyrics, they're wide open to interpretation. Great performance here. To me it might be about drug abuse but I really don't know. Oh and I don't know if "your" saying has anything to do with the song - but it might, as it doesn't really seem to be an established saying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whW7oVPcCYo

Signing off now before I start analysing your username;-)

[dundurn]

I'd assume that the sea was sparkling in bright sunshine. So the phrase might mean no more than that the person was literally swimming on a bright, sunny day or it might mean that he enjoyed good fortune as in "the sun shone on his endeavours".

[swedeheart]

Absolutely, dundurn. Sounds very possible. It all comes down to the context doesn't it. My reflection is, as it doesn't seem to be an established saying it must be either a reference to something (such as *for instance* that song or some other work of art) or an expression born in the moment - and then you'd have to know the context.

[horselady]

Thanks both. We were messing about at work the other day (very busy!) and looking at metaphors when we found this but none of us had ever heard of it, I suppose it could be drug-related, bit like the Beatles and "Lucy in the sky with diamonds"