overboard
chuck (someone or something) overboard
To dispose or get rid of someone or something, especially in an improper manner. Likened to throwing someone or something over the side of a ship. In a major corporate shake-up, most of the company's upper-level management was chucked overboard at the end of the fiscal year. I know it's a really bad habit, but we just open the window and chuck our rubbish overboard when traveling on a long car journey.
See also: chuck, overboard
fall overboard
To fall over the side of a ship or boat and into the water. Hey, be careful standing by the railing like that—if we hit rough waters, you're liable to fall overboard!
See also: fall, overboard
go overboard
1. Literally, to fall off of a boat. Be careful standing so close to the edge—we don't want anyone to go overboard!
2. To act without restraint in some area. Did I go overboard with the Christmas decorations? I'm worried I bought enough Christmas lights to light up Times Square.
See also: go, overboard
throw (something) overboard
To dispose or get rid of something or someone. Likened to throwing something over the side of a ship. In a major corporate shake-up, most of the company's upper-level management was thrown overboard at the end of the fiscal year. I know it's a really bad habit, but we just throw our rubbish overboard when travelling on a long car journey.
See also: overboard, throw
wash overboard
1. To be carried over the side of a boat by water, especially a wave or large amount of rain. The boat pitched and rolled in the waves, and three unfortunate souls washed overboard before the storm eventually broke. I'm warning you now—anything not tied down is going to wash overboard.
2. Of water, especially a wave or large amount of rain, to carry someone or something over the side of a boat. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "wash" and "overboard." A huge swell crashed into the boat and nearly washed me overboard. The storm washed several priceless antiques overboard on our way to the museum.
See also: overboard, wash
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
fall overboard
to fall from a boat or a ship into the water. (See also go overboard) Someone fell overboard and they had to stop the boat and go back. The lady's sunglasses fell overboard.
See also: fall, overboard
go overboard
1. Fig. to fall out of a boat or off of a ship; to fall overboard. Be careful or you will go overboard. Someone went overboard in the fog.
2. Fig. to do too much; to be extravagant. Look, Sally, let's have a nice party, but don't go overboard. It doesn't need to be fancy. Okay, you can buy a big comfortable car, but don't go overboard on price.
See also: go, overboard
wash overboard
[for someone or something] to be carried overboard (off the deck of a ship) by water. Our chairs washed overboard in the storm. I was afraid that the dog would wash overboard, so I took her below.
See also: overboard, wash
wash someone or something overboard
[for water] to flood up and carry someone or something off the deck of a ship into the sea. The high seas washed two of the sailors overboard. The storm washed our chairs overboard.
See also: overboard, wash
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
go overboard
Show excessive enthusiasm, act in an excessive way. For example, It's easy to go overboard with a new stock offering, or She really went overboard, hiring the most expensive caterer. [Mid-1900s]
See also: go, overboard
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
go overboard
1 be highly enthusiastic. 2 behave immoderately; go too far.The idea behind this idiom is that of recklessly jumping over the side of a ship into the water.
See also: go, overboard
throw something overboard
abandon or discard something.The idea here is that something thrown over the side of a ship is lost forever.
See also: overboard, something, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go ˈoverboard (about/for somebody/something)
(informal) be too excited or enthusiastic about something or about doing something: I told her just to cook a simple meal but she went completely overboard. He doesn’t just like her. He’s gone completely overboard about her.See also: go, overboard
throw something ˈoverboard
reject or get rid of something: All ideas of reform were thrown overboard when the new government came to power.See also: overboard, something, throw
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
go overboard
in. to do far more than is necessary. Now don’t go overboard for us. We’re just folks.
See also: go, overboard
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
go overboard
To go to extremes, especially as a result of enthusiasm.
See also: go, overboard
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
go overboard, to
To go to extremes; to overreact, especially in favor of something or someone. This expression, which conjures up the extreme act of jumping or falling off a ship, dates from the first half of the twentieth century. For a time it signified living beyond one’s means, but that meaning is no longer current. John P. Marquand used the term in its contemporary sense (Melville Goodwin, 1951): “Did you ever hear about General Goodwin going overboard over an American girl in Paris?”
See also: go
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be/have done with somebody/something
- be in line with (someone or something)
- better of
- beware of
- beware of (someone or something)
- (someone or something) promises well
- begin with
- begin with (someone or something)
- bird has flown, the
- be rough on (someone or something)