The phrase whatever floats your boat, means “whatever you like, or whatever makes you happy is okay or permissible”:
Person 1: What shall we eat for dinner?
Person 2: How about Chinese food?
Person 1: Whatever floats your boat!
There are many versions of this phrase, which became common in America during the 1980s. This probably reflects the value of individualism and tolerance for differences in America, especially beginning in the 1970s. After whatever floats your boat became popular, people created other similar phrases for fun, following the same pattern: whatever (verbs) your (noun):
whatever tickles your fancy
whatever bakes your cake
whatever flips your switch
whatever lights your candle
whatever toots your horn
And many more. English speakers enjoy making up new ones—maybe you can invent one of your own!
More Examples of “whatever floats your boat” in a Sentence
- Hey, whatever floats your boat, or yacht, I guess, in this case.
- Then again, some people collect stamps, or tattoos, or husbands, so whatever floats your boat.
- It’s not my thing, but whatever floats your boat.
- My wife would have called everything off if I would have even suggested such a thing, but hey, whatever floats your boat.
- As you always say, whatever floats your boat in life is to be embraced.