overboard

[oh-ver-bawrd, -bohrd]

adverb

1. over the side of a ship or boat, especially into or in the water.

   to fall overboard.

overboard

/ ˈəʊvəˌbɔːd /

adverb

1. from on board a vessel into the water

2. informal

   1. to be extremely enthusiastic

   2. to go to extremes

3. to reject or abandon

Word History and Origins

Origin of overboard¹

before 1000; Middle English over bord, Old English ofer bord. See over, board

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go overboard, to go to extremes, especially in regard to approval or disapproval of a person or thing.

   I think the critics went overboard in panning that new show.

see go overboard.

Example Sentences

In his enthusiasm, he admits he has gone “a little overboard” and created his own line of merchandise: Kitchen Video hats, aprons, tote bags and membership cards.

From Los Angeles Times

But officials believe that about 300 people were originally on the boat, and that some had been thrown overboard.

From BBC

It is very rare for somebody to fall overboard and for their body to never be found, Cdr League tells me.

From BBC

“A lot of people are going overboard with that. ‘

From Los Angeles Times

The containers, which carried general cargo such as clothes, furniture, shoes and electronics, mysteriously fell overboard while the vessel was “in the process of offloading” at Pier G around 9 a.m., according to U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disproportionate 
• enormous 
• exaggerated 
• exorbitant 
• extra 
• extravagant 
• extreme 
• inordinate 
• needless 
• redundant 
• steep 
• superfluous 
• unconscionable 
• undue 
• unreasonable