The idiom "above board" means to be honest, open, and transparent in one's dealings or actions. It is often used to describe a situation where everything is done in a straightforward and fair manner, without any hidden or deceitful intentions.
For example, if a company is conducting a business deal and they want to assure their partners that everything is fair and transparent, they might say "We want to make sure that everything is above board in this deal."
Similarly, if someone is accused of doing something wrong, they might say "I swear everything I did was above board" to indicate that they did not do anything deceitful or dishonest.
Overall, the phrase "above board" is used to emphasize the importance of honesty and transparency in any situation, whether it's in business, personal relationships, or any other aspect of life.
• I always make sure my actions are above board so that I don't get into trouble.
• The lawyer assured her client that everything they were doing was completely above board and legal.
• It's important for politicians to be above board in their dealings to gain the trust of the people.
• The company's CEO was investigated for not keeping their business practices above board and was subsequently fired.
• The journalist won a Pulitzer Prize for his investigative reporting, which uncovered a corrupt politician's failure to keep his dealings above board.
• The company's financial transactions are always kept above board to maintain transparency and integrity.