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Glite Dictionary
to have on board

to have on board

21 3.2
To include someone as part of a team to work on a project
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : contar con
  • It's great to have her on board; she brings valuable experience to our group.
  • glad to have you on board
  • excited to have you on board
  • nice to have you on board

Well, Isaac, it's been an absolute pleasure to have you on board.

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Examples

Synonyms

to include
vsto have on board
∞ 1.0

To make a person or thing part of something larger

focuses on involving the person as an active team member
to take on
vsto have on board
50 3.5

Allow someone to join a group or organization

emphasizes involving them actively in the group's work
to onboard
vsto have on board
  • Jargon
1 4.1

To help a new person join a team by giving information and support

focuses on making them part of the team rather than only helping them adjust

Antonyms

to exclude
338 3.0

To keep someone or something out so they are not part of something

How Included

to integrate
179 4.1
to have on board
21 3.2
to include
∞ 1.0
to leave out
312 2.3

Surface Forms

have on board infinitive
had on board past
had on board past participle
having on board present participle
has on board third person singular

Morphology

have + on + board

The sense 'to include someone as part of a group' partly follows from 'have' (to include/hold) combined with the locative phrase 'on board' (literally being on a vessel) which has been extended metaphorically to membership/support. Because 'on board' is a metaphorical extension rather than a strictly compositional location, a B1 learner who knows the words may only partially infer the idiomatic participation meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Have on board may come from the image of a ship: to have someone on board meant they were actually on the ship and part of the crew or passengers. So the phrase came to mean 'to include' or 'to involve' someone in a team or plan.