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Glite Dictionary
to strand the boat

to strand the boat

7.8
Leave a boat on shore or in shallow water so it cannot move
  • phrasal verb
  • /strænd ðə boʊt/
translation icon : varar el barco
  • The captain accidentally stranded the boat on a hidden reef during the night.

Examples

  • Don't strand the boat on the rocks!

  • Fishermen often warn against navigating at low tide to avoid stranding the boat.

  • Heavy winds stranded the boat far from the harbor.

  • We should avoid stranding the boat in shallow waters.

  • Fishermen often warn against navigating at low tide to avoid stranding the boat.

  • Heavy winds stranded the boat far from the harbor.

  • The captain accidentally stranded the boat on a hidden reef during the night.

Synonyms

to strand
vsto strand the boat
141 6.7

To leave a person or vehicle stuck somewhere without help

applies specifically to leaving a vessel stuck on shore or in shallow water

Antonyms

to float
645 1.0

To stay or move on water without sinking, sometimes in the air

How Stuck

to strand the boat
7.8
aground
14 6.7

Surface Forms

strand the boat infinitive
stranded the boat past
stranded the boat past participle
stranding the boat present participle
strands the boat third person singular

Morphology

strand + the + boat

The meaning 'to leave a boat in a position where it cannot move' is directly and literally composed from 'strand' (to leave someone or a vessel unable to leave) plus 'boat' as the affected object, following a standard verb + noun pattern. This compositional relation is predictable for a B1 learner who knows both constituents and is cross-linguistically common, so the expression is transparent.

Etymology

Strand the boat shows a clear image: someone leaves a boat up on sand or rocks when the tide goes out, so it sits 'stuck' until the water returns. So it means 'to leave a boat in a place where it cannot move'.