The Village Idiom

fresh off the boat

The idiom "fresh off the boat" refers to a person who has just arrived in a new country or place and is inexperienced or naive about the local customs and culture.

Filed under F

In a sentence

  • After moving to a new country, Alex was still adjusting to the local customs and had a strong accent, so his friends teasingly said he was "fresh off the boat.
  • The restaurant received a negative review because the food was not prepared as authentically as the owner claimed. The reviewer commented that it seemed like the chef was "fresh off the boat.
  • When I started my new job, I was unfamiliar with the office procedures and made a few mistakes. My colleagues jokingly called me "fresh off the boat" until I got the hang of things.

Know an earlier use or a better origin story?Tell us.