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Go By The Board
Go By The Board
Go By The Board : Phrases
Meaning:
Finished with, as in thrown overboard.
Origin:
The board is the side of a ship. In common with many nautical phrases, go by the board dates back to the 17th century. Most of the early references to this phrase relate to masts of sailing ships which had fallen 'by the board'. For example, John Taylor's Works, 1603:
"In this fight their Reare-Admirals Maine Mast was shot by the boord."
The London Gazette No. 60/3, 1666:
"Our Main-stay, and our Main Top-Mast came all by the board."
The figurative use of the phrase began in the mid 19th century. For example, this early citation, from The Gettysburg Republican Compiler, November 1837:
"Those banks that do not resume speedily will go by the board."
Items which go by the board could be said to be jetsam.