broad in the beam

Idioms  

1. Having broad hips or large buttocks. For example, I've grown too broad in the beam for these slacks. This expression originated in the 17th century and described the wideness of a ship. It began to be used for the human body only in the 1920s.

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Example Sentences

She was broad in the beam for a yacht, but consequently safe and comfortable.

From Wild Life in the Land of the Giants A Tale of Two Brothers by Stables, Gordon

She is built on the lines of a monitor, bluff in the bow, broad in the beam, slow and majestic of movement.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 159, November 24, 1920 by Seaman, Owen, Sir

The Perhaps was a full-rigged ship, with auxiliary steam, broad in the beam, with strong, rounded bows.

From The Turnstile by Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)

The hulk President was a plain solid barque of one thousand tons register, broad in the beam.

From Nevermore by Bolderwood, Rolf

It swayed under me, but it was broad in the beam and rode high in the water; no harm happened.

From Simon Dale by Hope, Anthony