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boy in the boat
A woman's clitoris, so euphemized for its placement between the labia minora resembling a person within a small boat.
little man in the boat
A woman's clitoris, so euphemized for its placement between the labia minora resembling a person within a small boat.
fresh off the boat
Newly immigrated, especially without having yet assimilated the host country's language, culture, and/or behavior. My grandfather was still fresh off the boat when he opened up his business here in 1820, and he didn't speak a lick of English.
a rising tide lifts all boats
economics A strong economy benefits businesses and individuals at all levels. The phrase was popularized by US President John F. Kennedy. Thanks to the economy doing so well lately, our business has been booming. I guess it's really true what they say, that a rising tide lifts all boats.
float (one's) boat
To make someone happy. Often used in the phrase "whatever floats (one's) boat." A: "What do you want for dinner?" B: "Whatever floats your boat, I'm not even hungry." I think this new job in the lab will really float Isabel's boat.
be in the same boat
To share a particular experience or circumstance with someone else. My sister failed her driver's test, and I'll be in the same boat if I don't practice parallel parking. As hard as it is to live with a disability, remember that you're not alone—a lot of other people are in the same boat.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
Whatever turns you on.
1. Inf. Whatever pleases or excites you is okay. Mary: Do you mind if I buy some of these flowers? Bill: Whatever turns you on. Mary: I just love to hear a raucous saxophone play some smooth jazz. Bob: Whatever turns you on, baby.
2. . Inf. a comment implying that it is strange to get so excited about something. (Essentially sarcastic.) Bob: I just go wild whenever I see pink gloves on a woman. I don't understand it. Bill: Whatever turns you on. Jane: You see, I never told anybody this, but whenever I see snow falling, I just go sort of mushy inside. Sue: Weird, Jane, weird. But, whatever turns you on.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 fingersnot 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.
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.
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.
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 foundationsbe 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.
burn one's bridges
Also,
burn one's boats. Commit oneself to an irreversible course. For example,
Denouncing one's boss in a written resignation means one has burned one's bridges, or
Turning down one job before you have another amounts to burning your boats. Both versions of this idiom allude to ancient military tactics, when troops would cross a body of water and then burn the bridge or boats they had used both to prevent retreat and to foil a pursuing enemy. [Late 1800s] Also see
cross the rubicon.
in the same boat
Also, all in the same boat. In a similar situation, in the same position. For example, Everyone's got too much work-we're all in the same boat. This expression alludes to the risks shared by passengers in a small boat at sea. [Mid-1800s]
miss the boat
1. Fail to take advantage of an opportunity, as in Jean missed the boat on that club membership. This expression, which alludes to not being in time to catch a boat, has been applied more widely since the 1920s.
2. Fail to understand something, as in
I'm afraid our legislator missed the boat on that amendment to the bill. [Mid-1900s] Also see
miss the point.
rock the boat
Disturb a stable situation, as in An easygoing manager, he won't rock the boat unless it's absolutely necessary. This idiom alludes to capsizing a small vessel, such as a canoe, by moving about in it too violently. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
boat
1. n. a big shoe. (see also
gunboats.)
Those boats are special made, in fact. 2. n. a big car; a full-size car. I don’t want to drive a big boat like that.
boat anchor
n. a useless computer; anything heavy and useless. Why don’t you replace that boat anchor with a new model?
just off the boat
mod. freshly immigrated and perhaps gullible and naive. (see also
FOB.)
I’m not just off the boat. I know what’s going on. miss the boat
tv. to have made an error; to be wrong. If you think you can do that, you have just missed the boat.
whatever turns you on
and whatever floats your boat tv. whatever excites you or interests you. (Main entry was said originally about sexual matters.) I can’t stand that kind of music, but whatever turns you on. Ketchup on hot dogs! Yuck! But whatever floats your boat.
whatever floats your boat
verb in the same boat
In the same situation as another or others.
miss the boat
Informal 1. To fail to avail oneself of an opportunity.
2. To fail to understand.
rock the boat
To disturb the balance or routine of a situation: He has an easygoing managerial style and won't rock the boat unless absolutely necessary.
slow boat to China
A very long time. A poker players' expression for a player who constantly lost was “I'd like to get you on a slow boat to China,” meaning that the others would have all the time in the world to win the guy's money. Composer Frank Loesser used the phrase as the title and the first line of a 1948 romantic ballad, and the expression started being used as a compliment.