Above board means honest, open, and legitimate. If a deal, action, or conversation is above board, nothing is being hidden.
The expression likely comes from card playing. In that setting, a board was the table. If your hands and cards stayed above board, other players could see them. That suggested fair play, not secret moves or cheating under the table.
Over time, the phrase moved beyond games and became a general way to describe honest behavior.
- Business: “The whole agreement was above board.”
- Personal behavior: “She was completely above board about the mistake.”
- Public decisions: “Officials said the process was above board.”
A helpful contrast is under the table, which often suggests secrecy or dishonesty. So if something is above board, it is being done openly, where others can see what is happening.
