boat (redirected from boatfuls)

*in the same boat (as someone)

in the same situation; having the same problem. (*Typically: be ~; get [into]~.) Tom: I'm broke. Can you lend me twenty dollars? Bill: Sorry. I'm in the same boat. Jane and Mary are both in the same boat. They have been called for jury duty.

See also: same

just off the boat

Fig. to be newly immigrated and perhaps gullible and naive. I'm not just off the boat. I know what's going on. He may act like he's just off the boat, but he's very savvy.

See also: just

miss the boat 

1. Lit. to miss out (on something); to be ignorant (of something). Pay attention, John, or you'll miss the boat and not learn algebra. Tom really missed the boat when it came to making friends.

2. Fig. to have made an error; to be wrong. If you think you can do that, you have just missed the boat. The guy's missed the boat. He's a lunkhead.

See also: miss

rock the boat 

1. Lit. to do something to move a boat from side to side, causing it to rock. (Often in a negative sense.) Sit down and stop rocking the boat. You'll turn it over!

2. Fig. to cause trouble where none is welcome; to disturb a situation that is otherwise stable and satisfactory. (Often negative.) Look, Tom, everything is going fine here. Don't rock the boat! You can depend on Tom to mess things up by rocking the boat.

See also: rock

---

be in the same boat

to be in the same unpleasant situation as other people She's always complaining that she doesn't have enough money, but we're all in the same boat. (often + as ) If he loses his job he'll be in the same boat as any other unemployed person.

See also: same

burn your boats  (British & Australian) also burn your bridges (British, American & Australian)

to do something that makes it impossible for you to change your plans and go back to the situation you were in before She didn't want to burn her boats by asking for a divorce, so she suggested a trial separation instead. I'd already burned my bridges with my previous employer by publicly criticizing their products.

See burn fingers

See also: burn

miss the boat

to be too late to get something that you want Anyone still hoping for concert tickets will discover they have missed the boat. I sent off my university application at the last minute and nearly missed the boat.

See also: miss

not float somebody'sboat  (informal)

If something does not float your boat, you do not enjoy it or want it. The idea of crawling through an underground cave doesn't really float my boat.

See also: float

push the boat out  (British)

to spend a lot of money or more money than you usually do, especially when you are celebrating As it's your birthday, I think we can push the boat out and have a bottle of champagne. (sometimes + for ) They really pushed the boat out for Jane's wedding.

See also: out, push

rock the boat  (informal)

to do or say something that causes problems, especially if you try to change a situation which most people do not want to change We certainly don't want anyone rocking the boat just before the election. I tried to suggest a few ways in which we might improve our image and was told very firmly not to rock the boat.

See rock to its foundations

See also: rock

---

don't rock the boat

do not upset people by trying to change a situation You shouldn't sit there and say everything's fine, don't rock the boat.

Usage notes: sometimes used without don't: Of course you'll want to rock the boat.

Related vocabulary: keep your nose clean

See also: rock

in the same boat

experiencing the same situation or condition Suddenly Paul was in the same boat as any other worker who had lost a job.

See also: same

miss the boat

1. to lose an opportunity that could lead to success He thinks we're missing the boat on improving relations with Russia.

2. to not understand the importance of something I believe that people who think this issue is simply going to disappear have missed the boat.

See also: miss

whatever floats your boat

do what makes you happy If you want to have five children you should have five - whatever floats your boat.

Usage notes: also used in the form what floats your boat: By the time you've finished high school, you’ve probably figured out what floats your boat.

See also: float, whatever