Overboard
/ˈoʊvərˌbɔːrd/
Definitions
2 meaningsOver the side of a ship into the water.
/ˈoʊvərˌbɔːrd/
Over the side of a ship or boat into the water.
The pirate pushed the treasure chest overboard.
💡 Simply: Think of falling out of a boat! When you go overboard, you're in the water.
👶 For kids: Falling out of a boat or ship into the water.
More Examples
The child leaned too far over the railing and nearly went overboard.
If the ship starts to sink, we have to go overboard.
How It's Used
"The sailor fell overboard during the storm."
"He was so excited about the project that he almost fell overboard with his enthusiasm."
Excessive; going too far; beyond a reasonable or acceptable limit.
/ˈoʊvərˌbɔːrd/
The gift was a little overboard; it was too expensive.
💡 Simply: Sometimes you get so into something that you're doing too much. That's going overboard!
👶 For kids: Doing too much of something.
More Examples
He went overboard with the party planning, inviting hundreds of guests.
The actor was accused of going overboard with his performance and made the play less realistic.
How It's Used
"Her decorating style was a little overboard, with too many ornaments."
"The company went overboard with the new marketing campaign."
Idioms & expressions
go overboard
To be or become excessive or extreme.
"She tends to go overboard when she's planning a party."
From Middle English 'over bord', meaning 'over the side of a ship'. It combines 'over' and 'board' (referring to the side of a ship).
The term's nautical usage dates back several centuries, initially referring to the physical act of falling from a ship. Its figurative usage, describing excessiveness, emerged later.
Memory tip
Imagine a person falling *overboard* from a ship – it's a direct action into the water.
Word Origin
"Over (beyond or across) + board (the side of a ship or boat)"