What Does “Whatever Floats Your Boat” Mean? (With Similar Phrases)

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Plus, how to make your own rhyming expression that “floats your boat”

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: October 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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• What does “Whatever floats your boat” mean?
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• How To Use It
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• Is it positive or negative?
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• Where did it come from?
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• Alternative Phrases

|Show more |Show less

When someone says “Whatever floats your boat” to you, they’re not talking about keeping an actual ship afloat. Instead, this expression means to do what you want or what makes you happy (similar to another common slang phrase, “you do you”). In this article, we’ll dive into exactly what this English phrase means and when to say it, plus explore where it comes from and how you can play with the rhyme structure to create your own expression. Read on to learn more!

“Whatever Floats your Boat” Definition at a Glance

“Whatever floats your boat” is a casual English expression that means to do what makes you happy or is right for you. It’s a metaphor for a person (the “boat”) doing what they must to feel joy (“float”). You might say “whatever floats your boat” to support someone’s choice and show you don’t have a strong preference.

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Section 1 of 5:

What does “Whatever floats your boat” mean?

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1. 
   “Whatever floats your boat” means to do what makes you happy or excited. It’s a casual English expression that you might say to support someone’s decision to do what they enjoy or let them know they have options, very similar to the common slang phrase “You do you.” Saying it also implies that you don’t have a strong preference yourself. You can also say that something floats your own boat to show your personal preference for whatever you’re talking about.

   • “What should we watch tonight? We can put on whatever floats your boat!”
   • “I like all the flavors, but strawberry really floats my boat.”
   • “Whatever floats your boat” is different from two other English expressions involving boats:
     • To “rock the boat” means to say or do something that will upset others or cause a problem.
     • To “push the boat out” means to spend more money than you usually do or were supposed to, especially for a celebration.
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Section 2 of 5:

When to Say “Whatever Floats Your Boat”

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   Say “whatever floats your boat” to show support for someone’s choice. When someone tells you about a relatively small decision they’ve made or asks for your opinion about it, say “Whatever floats your boat” to show you’re fine with them choosing the option that makes them happy. Using this phrase also implies that you don’t have a strong preference for any of the options yourself, or that you don’t have anything at stake in the decision.

   • Them: “Is it OK if we have spaghetti for dinner tonight?”
     You: “Sure! Whatever floats your boat.”
   • Them: “I think I’m going to skip pilates today and have a self-care session instead.”
     You: “Whatever floats your boat! You deserve some down time.”
   • Tone tip: Save this phrase for casual conversations about somewhat trivial matters with friends, family, and familiar acquaintances, though. Saying “whatever floats your boat” in a very serious, formal, or professional setting may come off a bit dismissive or overly casual.
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   Say that something floats your boat to show your fondness for it. You can also apply “whatever floats your boat” to show your own likes and joys. For example, if fall is your favorite season, you could say “fall floats my boat” (just insert the thing you’re talking about for “whatever” and change “your” to “my”). Saying something floats your boat also implies a slight affinity or extra appreciation for that thing compared to other options.

   • “I’m not super picky about desserts but cheesecake really floats my boat.”
   • “Nothing floats my boat like a basket of chicken tenders after a long day.”
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   Or, use a sarcastic tone to show disagreement or superiority. When someone makes a choice you don’t agree with or you think is worse than your own choice or opinion, reply with “whatever floats your boat” in a passive aggressive or condescending tone. Saying it this way means you disagree with whatever the other person decided on, but you’re not going to put up a fight because it’s not your problem. It also implies that you think your own opinion is superior to theirs, so it’s their loss for not agreeing with you.

   • Them: “Grace and I are getting back together.”
     You: “Seriously!? Again? Whatever floats your boat, I guess.”
   • Them: “I’m sticking with my original science fair idea.”
     You: “Whatever floats your boat! You’ll be coming in 2nd place after me.”
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Section 3 of 5:

Is “Whatever floats your boat” positive or negative?

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1. 
   “Whatever” floats your boat is typically positive or neutral. In most cases, people say “Whatever floats your boat” to show that they don’t have a strong opinion about something and want you to do what makes you happy. It’s also a casual expression, so you’re most likely to hear it from friends, family, or colleagues who genuinely do want you to make the choice that’s right for you.

   • However, “whatever floats your boat” can be used negatively to imply someone made a weak or unfavorable choice. Look for context clues like a sarcastic tone or a prior disagreement to determine if someone’s using this phrase negatively.

Section 4 of 5:

Where did “Whatever floats your boat” come from?

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1. 
   “Whatever floats your boat” most likely came from the nautical world and sailors. It’s not clear exactly when or how “whatever floats your boat” appeared in the English language, but it probably arose from shipbuilders and sailors whose job it was to keep boats afloat for sailing. Eventually, it became a popular metaphor in the general population for finding whatever brings you joy or works for your specific circumstances.

   • Some credit American recreational sailors for the phrase. One early printed mention comes from a 1979 issue of The Tampa Bay Times regarding boat decorating, where one article ends with “You are the ultimate interior decorator for your boat. Remember there are no hard and fast rules, just go with whatever floats your boat.”
   • There are actually quite a few English expressions that come from sailing and maritime culture. Some popular ones include:
     • “All hands on deck:” Every sailor and officer must pitch in to fix or deal with a problem. Today, it’s used to ask for help for anything from chores to important professional projects.
     • “Under the weather:” Sailors would go below deck to avoid storms. Today, it means you’re feeling a bit sick or ill.
     • “Learn the ropes:” Originally, this was a command for new sailors to learn the rope system on their ship. Today, it means to learn the inner workings of any new role, project, or hobby.
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Section 5 of 5:

Alternative Phrases for “Whatever Floats Your Boat”

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   “You do you” “You do you” is another very common English slang expression that you can use interchangeably with “whatever floats your boat.” It also means that you think someone should do what’s best for them or will bring them the most joy or satisfaction.

   • Them: “I think I’m going to stay home instead of going to Carl’s birthday party tonight.”
     You: “You do you! I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”
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   “Different strokes for different folks” This expression means that every person is different and has different needs and wants in order to be happy and comfortable. You can say this to show support for someone’s choices even if they’re different from the ones you would have made. This saying sounds equally as playful as “whatever floats your boat” because it also rhymes.

   • Them: “I decided not to take the promotion.”
     You: “Really? I would have, but different strokes for different folks I guess!”
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   “Whatever tickles your fancy” This similar expression means to go after something that’s really interesting or attractive to you (your “fancy” is your desire, and whatever’s “tickling” it has got your attention). You can use it nearly interchangeably with “Whatever floats your boat,” but know that “tickle your fancy” has a more playful, flirtatious, and sometimes even sexual undertone.

   • “We can go anywhere for date night tonight! Whatever tickles your fancy 😉”
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   Create your own expression with the formula “Whatever ____s your ____.” “Whatever floats your boat” may be the original phrase, but its simple grammatical and rhyming structure make it easy to adapt with different words to convey the same idea. Just try to think of an object and something that it has to do (boats must float, for example). If you were a baker, you might say something like “Whatever bakes your cake!” since a cake must be baked. (Your expression doesn’t have to rhyme, but it sounds wittier and more memorable when it does!) Bonus points if you can work in a phrase that relates to a certain field or activity, like sailing or baking. Here are some more examples and variations for inspiration:

   • “Whatever lights your fire”
   • “Whatever paddles your canoe”
   • “Whatever finds your email well”
   • “Whatever ruffles your truffles”
   • “Whatever cools your pool”
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