overboard (redirected from thrown overboard)

fall overboard

to fall from a boat or a ship into the water. (See also go overboard) Someone fell overboard and they had to stop the boat and go back. The lady's sunglasses fell overboard.

See also: fall

go overboard 

1. Fig. to fall out of a boat or off of a ship; to fall overboard. Be careful or you will go overboard. Someone went overboard in the fog.

2. Fig. to do too much; to be extravagant. Look, Sally, let's have a nice party, but don't go overboard. It doesn't need to be fancy. Okay, you can buy a big comfortable car, but don't go overboard on price.

wash someone or something overboard

[for water] to flood up and carry someone or something off the deck of a ship into the sea. The high seas washed two of the sailors overboard. The storm washed our chairs overboard.

See also: wash

wash overboard

[for someone or something] to be carried overboard (off the deck of a ship) by water. Our chairs washed overboard in the storm. I was afraid that the dog would wash overboard, so I took her below.

See also: wash

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go overboard

to do something too much, or to be too excited and eager about something (often + on ) The car's makers seem to have gone overboard on design and sacrificed speed. He went completely overboard on her birthday and bought her a diamond ring.

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go overboard

to do or say too much because you are so enthusiastic I think I went overboard in decorating my house for Christmas. It's OK to discuss business during dinner, but don't go overboard and hand out documents for your guests to read while they're eating.

Related vocabulary: overdo it

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of go overboard (to fall over a ship's side)