Aboveboard
/əˌbʌvˈbɔːrd/noun
Open, honest, and not secretive or deceptive.
Did you know?The expression likely draws on the idea that gamblers or sailors keeping their hands above the table or deck had nothing concealed—turning physical visibility into a metaphor for moral honesty.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*burdą
“A plank, board, or wooden surface”
Old English
Old English
bord
“A board, plank, or ship’s side”
Middle English
Middle English
bord
“A table, surface, or shipboard structure”
Early 17th Century
English
above board
“Above the table or deck, with nothing concealed”
17th Century
English
above-board
“Openly and honestly, especially in dealings or games”
Modern English
English
aboveboard
“Frank, legitimate, and free from deception”