fresh/just off the boat
phrase
informal
: recently arrived in a country
My parents met in New York when my father was fresh off the boat from Italy.
Cite this Entry
“Fresh/just off the boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fresh%2Fjust%20off%20the%20boat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
