Not common ...

Posted by Bob on October 18, 2003

In Reply to: Pushing the boat out posted by Henry on October 18, 2003

: : Does anybody know the origin of "pushing the boat out" please?

: Pushing the boat out. Common enough today when it is someone's round of drinks in a pub. But the term owes its origin to Horatio Nelson. After losing his arm, the little admiral installed a beautifully-made silver boat mounted on wheels which could contain two decanters of either madeira or claret. When entertaining his captains he was then able to push the wine around the table more easily. The boat is now in the Nelson Collection at Lloyd's of London.
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Wait! It may be common in the UK, but on this side of the pond.... What precisely does it mean in the pub?