Above board
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Honest and open in dealings, with nothing hidden or shady.
Origin
From 17th-century England, tied to card games; 'above board' meant hands on the table, no cheating below. A 1616 play uses it for honesty. By the 19th century, Dickens' 1855 'Little Dorrit' cemented it, growing from gaming slang into a solid idiom of candor in a mistrustful age.
Variants
- Above the board
Usage Examples
- The deal's above board; no funny business here.
- She kept it above board, sharing all the details.
- He's above board; trust him with the cash.
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