💨 Go by the Board, To
Definition: To be lost or abandoned. Originally, the term referred to anything that fell or was thrown overboard from a ship, with no hope of recovery. The “board” represented the ship’s side. Though the expression dates back to the seventeenth century, by the mid-1800s, it was applied more generally.
Related and Similar Terms
- Out the window: To be discarded or no longer considered.
- Down the drain: Wasted or lost, usually with a sense of regret.
- Cut loose: To release or free from restrictions; sometimes implies abandonment.
- Gone for good: Forever lost or not expected to return.
Proverbs
- “A lost ship is easily forgotten.” — Nautical Proverb
- “Those who sail away may not always find their way back.”
Humor-Filled Quote
“Just make sure your ship doesn’t accidentally sail away with your common sense—that’s a big ‘go by the board’ moment!” — Captain Humorous McPun
Educational Snippet
This phrase finds its origins in maritime language. When a part of a ship “goes by the board,” it’s lost forever, much like how certain opportunities or possessions in life might be.
Inspirational Literature
- “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville: For more sea-faring adventures and maritime terms.
- “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway: A tale of struggle, loss, and perseverance on the open sea.
Movie Recommendations
- “Life of Pi” (2012): A visually stunning movie about survival at sea.
- “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” (2003): Applauded for its historical accuracy and nautical terminology.
Poetry
“The Wreck of the Hesperus” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow includes nautical-themed idioms: “Her rattling shrouds, all sheathed in ice, With the masts went by the board.”
Fair winds and following seas in your adventures with words!
