above board
Meaning: Honest and open, with nothing hidden.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The sale was completely above board, with receipts for everything.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Usually traced to card games: a player whose hands stay above the table (the "board") cannot be swapping cards underneath. The phrase is recorded from the early 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Swedish: Att ha rent mjöl i påsen — literally: To have clean flour in the bag
More idioms — Daily Life
- stake a claim — To declare that something is yours, or that you have a right to it.
- raze to the ground — To destroy a building or town completely.
- dig one's own grave — To cause one's own downfall.
- come in handy — To be useful when needed.
- put someone in their place — To remind someone firmly that they are not as important as they think.
- play for high stakes — To take part in something where a great deal can be won or lost.
More English idioms
- dig one's heels in — To refuse stubbornly to change one's mind.
- the scales fall from one's eyes — To suddenly see the truth after being deceived.
- feet of clay — A hidden weakness in someone or something admired.
- get to grips with something — To start dealing seriously with a problem.
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- get one's hands on something — To obtain something, often with difficulty.
From our compliments & insults
- Você é um amor — You're a sweetheart — warm, caring, and impossible not to like.
- Você tem muita garra — You have fierce, relentless determination — you claw your way through any obstacle.
- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) — You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.