on board meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

on board

prep

Etymology Originally a literal reference to the wooden boards of the deck of a boat or ship.

On or in (a means of transportation).

On board his boat were various firearms but not much food.
Even when I am on board the plane, I can never feel secure that my luggage is, too.

1 more example

There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. Mail bags, so I understand, are being put on board. Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors. Passengers wander restlessly about or hurry, with futile energy, from place to place.1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:

adj

Etymology Originally a literal reference to the wooden boards of the deck of a boat or ship.

Idiomatic Joining in or participating.

Idiomatic Agreeing or supporting.

It's a good idea, but let's see if we can get a few more of the management team on board.
Without management on board, the project has little chance of success.

1 more example

The ships' successes made Hitler quite the fan of them, and he supported the idea of more being converted and sent out soon. And so, with the Führer on board, albeit not literally, another six vessels were rapidly placed under conversion.2021 February 17, Drachinifel, 20:52 from the start, in German Merchant Raiders of WW2 - Gentleman Raiders of the High Seas, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2022:

Idiomatic Into itself or oneself.

Soccer players certainly tend not to take fluids on board.1991, David R. Lamb, Melvin H. Williams, Ergogenics: Enhancement of Performance in Exercise and Sport:

intj

Etymology Originally a literal reference to the wooden boards of the deck of a boat or ship.

The stereotypical cry of pirates when boarding a ship for close quarters combat.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.