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What's the origin of the phrase 'Above board'? It is sometimes suggested that the board in question is the deck of a ship and that this term comes from the seafaring practice of concealing pirates below decks (below board) in order to lull the crews of victim ships into a false sense of security.
Jan 23, 2018 · Although the literary origin of ‘above board’ is not readily available, ‘below board’ was used in “In Defence of Judiciall Astrology” in the year 1603 by Sir Christopher Heydon. ‘Below board’ was later evolved in the 17th century to ‘under hand’ which is currently in use and written as a single word.
Nov 8, 2016 · ORIGIN. The adverb above board originally meant with one’s cards visible above the level of the board (that is, the playing table), so as to avoid suspicion of cheating. In A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), Samuel Johnson wrote: Above-board. In open sight; without artifice or trick.
Jan 8, 2023 · Above Board idiom origin. The phrase “above board” likely originated from the chess game, where all pieces are placed on the board in plain view of both players. To be “above board” in chess means that all pieces are positioned openly rather than hidden or concealed.
Oct 7, 2022 · The origin of the phrase 'above board' is said to come from nautical terms, and it is believed that the term came into common English use in the 1600s: at the time, seafaring expressions became all the more popular in the language.
The exact origin of the idiom "above board" is unclear. It may have derived from the phrase "on board" which originally meant "in agreement" or "approving". Over time, the phrase may have evolved to include a negative connotation, as in someone who was not transparent or trustworthy.
The earliest known use of the word above board is in the late 1500s. OED's earliest evidence for above board is from 1594, in the writing of Thomas Nashe, writer.
