𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒 – refers to the days when the merchant traders waited for their ships to return laden with goods, which they hoped to sell at considerable profit, and thus make them rich. The phrase, when used today, no longer refers literally to ships, but to any circumstance that will suddenly provide one with a fortune. When this happens it will be a time to rejoice, or pay debts, or both. But, more often than not, the phrase is used when there is little chance of this happening.