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

Flotsam means the leftover bits and pieces of a shipwreck, while jetsam means items thrown overboard on purpose.

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It puts one at real risk of getting carried away, or even going overboard, especially when at sea.

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As many of the panicked seamen attempted to jump overboard, they landed in the netting, were unable to climb out of it, and went down with the vessel.

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I was afraid they were going to throw me overboard.

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Most of the thirteen-man crew were already overboard, paddling between floating puddles of burning fuel.

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Related Words

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