MAC 3 | Lesson 5 | Vocabulary

​In the live lesson we read a text about the story of Bom Jesus, a Portuguese ship that probably sank off the coast of Namibia.

In the lines 27-32 we read the following passage: "One was the Bom Jesus, captained by Dom Francisco de Noronha and carrying 300 crew, soldiers and merchants. She had on board a fortune in gold and ivory to trade at a spice port on the coast of India."

Multiple Choice

"She had on board a fortune in gold and ivory to trade..."

What is the meaning of "on board" in this expression?

• accepted

• regular

• on a ship

​Exactly! On board means on/inside a ship. Why's that? A board is a piece of flat wood. It describes a table (that's why a group of executives that command a company is called "board") or a shelf (that's why "cupboard"). The deck of a ship, in the past, was made of wooden boards.

​Now, let's examine some other phrases with the word "board" in context to identify their meanings.

​

Take your notebook or lexical book and write the new expressions and their meanings.​

Multiple Choice

"... we'll get an even improved response rate, because staff will understand that we do listen to their views and take them on board."

What is the meaning of take something on board?

• accepted and acted upon

• do too much or get too excited

• regular, correct, legal

• in all situations

​Yes, take something on board (an idea, a suggestion) means to accept and act upon this idea or suggestion. This expression is based on the word board meaning the wooden deck of a boat. To take something on board, in its literal meaning, is the same as to carry loads on a ship. In this sense, it means to incorporate something from outside (an idea or suggestion from other people).

​The next expression is also based on the same original meaning of the word board.

Multiple Choice

"Then, what's really important, is that you don't go overboard on the carbs."

What is the meaning of go overboard?

• let's return to the very beginning of the process, start again

• do too much or get too excited

• regular, correct, legal

• in all situations

​Yes, go overboard means to do or say too much because you are so enthusiastic. And the expression originated from the word overboard, which means to go over the board of a ship and fall on the water (imagine an overexcited passenger that is running across the deck and without being able to control the speed, cannot stop and end up in the sea...).

​The next three expressions are based on the word board meaning table.

Multiple Choice

"It is part of what makes our elections so free and fair is that we do have that constant supervision to make sure that it's all being done above board."

What is the meaning of above board?

• accepted and acted upon

• let's return to the very beginning of the process, start again

• regular, correct, legal

• in all situations

Multiple Choice

"...she went around the world asking couples, 'when are you most drawn to your partner?' And what she found across the board, everyone said the same thing."

What is the meaning of across the board?

• accepted and acted upon

• let's return to the very beginning of the process, start again

• regular, correct, legal

• in all situations

Multiple Choice

"If your hypothesis is supported, share your results with the world; if not, go back to the drawing board."

What is the meaning of back to the drawing board?

• accepted or acted upon

• let's return to the very beginning of the process, start again

• regular, correct, legal

• in all situations

​Above board means something done properly because nobody is doing anything secret, under the table.

Across the board means something that happens in all situations (something that happens to everyone sitting at the table).

Back to the drawing board​ means returning to the starting point. The drawing board is where a designer or engineer works, making their designs.

​So, let's recap! Take notes on your notebook or lexical book!

​• on board - on/inside a ship

• take something on board - accept and act upon

• back to the drawing board - return to the very beginning of the process, start again

• go overboard - do too much or get too excited​

• above board - regular, correct, legal

• across the board - in all situations.

​Now, time to practice!

​Think of examples of the following. Write a sentence or a short paragraph describing the situations. Make sure you use the expressions we learned today!

​

• ​A situation at school/workplace in which some sort of punishment was given across the board.

• ​A deal or negotiation you suspect was not done above board.

• A project in which you were on board but did not go as planned.​

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Share your text on Google Classroom or show it to your classmates and teacher!

​Extra practice!

​Go to page 110 of your MAC3 book and do exercise 8!