IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishabove board
Meaning: Honest and open, with nothing hidden.
Example: “The sale was completely above board, with receipts for everything.”
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 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.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- 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.
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