How does the phrase “all hands on deck” use synecdoche?

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Louisa May Alcott: Little Women — figure of speech Front cover of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel *Little Women*.

The phrase "all hands on deck" is a classic example of synecdoche, a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole.12

In this expression, the word "hands" serves as a part of the human body to represent the entire person or worker. By calling for "all hands," the speaker is requesting the presence and assistance of the entire crew or group of people, rather than just their physical hands. This rhetorical device creates vivid imagery by focusing on the specific physical component—the hands—that is essential for performing the labor required on a ship or in any urgent situation.32415