Timeline for "I take on board your thoughts" in a formal setting
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
16 events
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| Aug 23, 2021 at 22:59 | comment | added | alephzero | Never forget that in British English, things often mean the opposite of their dictionary definitions. "I hear what you say" can mean anything from "that is so stupid it's not even wrong" to "you may well be right, but I'm still going to ignore your opinion." | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 18:44 | comment | added | mplungjan | So I deserve downvotes for warning someone? | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 18:33 | comment | added | David | I’m British, but no sailor, so every time I hear this expression I vomit. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 15:33 | comment | added | Nemo | @mplungjan I'm with Kate Bunting on this one regarding nuance. Of course your past experience of your colleague will colour what you think he is likely to mean but in general "I hear what you say" is the more negative of the two expressions IMO. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 13:06 | history | edited | mplungjan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Aug 23, 2021 at 13:04 | comment | added | mplungjan | @StuartF the nuances are not in a dictionary. If I hear my (male) British colleague taking some thoughts I have "on board" I would not expect those thoughts to be part of any decision he would make. I would hear this as a polite way of ignoring my suggestion | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 13:04 | comment | added | Stuart F | Macmillan (in an actual dictionary of British English) defines it as "to consider an idea, problem, or situation and try to deal with it". This does not mean to accept or agree with, but implies at least an effort to explain why to reject it. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 13:00 | comment | added | Stuart F | Merriam-Webster says "to decide to accept or deal with", and "deal with" clearly does not mean "accept". "Taking on board" is definitely weaker than accepting or agreeing with. It implies taken into consideration, but still allows for the fact that it may be rejected. I think the quotation in the answer is a bit facetious, but definitely indicates that "taking on board" does not necessarily imply agreement or acceptance. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 12:45 | comment | added | mplungjan | @KateBunting I have updated the answer | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 12:45 | history | edited | mplungjan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
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| Aug 23, 2021 at 12:04 | comment | added | Kate Bunting | I agree that "I hear what you say (but...)" can be a polite dismissal, but I would say that "take on board" implies "add it to the metaphorical 'cargo' of our ideas and thoughts on the matter". | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 11:47 | comment | added | mplungjan | However working with the British teaches you otherwise. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 11:46 | comment | added | user 66974 | M-W appears to disagree. Their definition as a British expression doesn’t imply any unstated disagreement. | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 11:39 | comment | added | mplungjan | I’ll bear it in mind. ;) | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 11:36 | comment | added | Edwin Ashworth | I'm British, and I'd find a less disingenuous way of disagreeing (check my track record on ELU!) | |
| Aug 23, 2021 at 11:28 | history | answered | mplungjan | CC BY-SA 4.0 |