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Glite Dictionary
🚆 Inside a vehicle 👍 In agreement
on board

on board

210 3.6
Agreeing with and supporting a plan or idea
  • idiom
translation icon : de acuerdo
  • Focus Group Basics: You need to get your school administrators on board before you start this process.
  • get on board
  • bring on board
  • come on board

And so, yeah, they, they got on board, you know, pretty quickly.

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Examples

  • I think the faculty felt that we should participate, get on board, or find ways of showing results.

    Academic text (2007)

  • How are you going to get your administration and your key teaching staff on board with your program?

    Academic text (2014)

  • So I want to make sure people are on board as we go through.

  • And so, yeah, they, they got on board, you know, pretty quickly.

    Film Courage

  • And I wish that we, the US would get on board and, and do the same.

    Triggernometry

  • The left needs a plan, needs to get on board with a plan.

    Megyn Kelly

  • The problem lies in getting people on board, including budget holders.

    Academic text (2009)

  • I think the fact that the superintendent was totally on board really boosted my confidence.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Before we start the project, I want to ensure everyone is on board with our goals.

  • The team was on board with the new strategy after the meeting provided clarity.

Synonyms

to be down with
vson board
  • Slang
113 8.6

Agree with and support an idea or plan

uses neutral or formal language rather than slang or casual tone
on the same page
vson board
79 3.4

Having the same view about a plan or goal

is more about offering active support for the plan rather than just shared understanding
in agreement
vson board
71 2.1

Being of the same opinion as other people

implies active support for a plan or project rather than mere shared opinion

Antonyms

against
∞ 1.0

Not following advice, a rule, or someone's wish

How Supportive

committed
79 4.0
enthusiastic
175 2.7
on board
210 3.6
open
702 1.0
neutral
218 3.6
skeptical
  • US
286 4.2
opposed
1 3.5

Surface Forms

on board positive

Morphology

on + board

The literal composition 'on' + 'board' clearly yields a physical/location sense (being on a vehicle or platform) which a B1 learner can derive, but the idiomatic meaning 'in agreement/supportive' is a metaphorical extension of that physical sense and is not fully predictable from the constituents. Because the relation to the parts is partially clear but requires exposure to the figurative use, the MWE is best classified as semi-transparent.

Etymology

On board comes from being on the ship's board with other people on the same trip, so you were part of the team. That's why on board now means 'in agreement' or ready to join a plan.