damn the torpedoes vs falter

damn the torpedoes

verb
  • Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action. 

falter

noun
  • An unsteadiness. 

verb
  • To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; said of the mind or of thought. 

  • To hesitate in purpose or action. 

  • To cleanse or sift, as barley. 

  • To waver or be unsteady; to weaken or trail off. 

  • To stammer; to utter with hesitation, or in a weak and trembling manner. 

  • To stumble. 

  • To lose faith or vigor; to doubt or abandon (a cause). 

How often have the words damn the torpedoes and falter occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )