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Meaning & use

broad in the beam

phrase·Advancedinformalhumorousdisapproving

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UK/ˌbrɔːd ɪn ðə ˈbiːm/
US/ˌbrɔːd ɪn ðə ˈbiːm/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. phraseinformalhumorousdisapproving

    Having wide hips or a wide bottom; used humorously or unkindly about a person's shape.

    Grammar: Used after the verb 'be' or 'look': 'She is broad in the beam.' It is not used before a noun.

    Patterns

    • be broad in the beam
    • look broad in the beam

    He joked that the new office chair was for people who are broad in the beam.

    In the old photos, she laughs at how broad in the beam she looked in that dress.

    The character is described as short and broad in the beam, which the author treats as part of her charm.

  2. phrasetechnicalold-fashioned

    Having a wide body, used about a ship or boat.

    Grammar: Used after 'be' or 'look' when describing a vessel's width.

    Patterns

    • be broad in the beam
    • a ship broad in the beam

    The old fishing boat was broad in the beam and very stable in rough seas.

    A ship that is broad in the beam can carry more cargo but moves more slowly.

Common combinations

be broad in the beam
After the holidays, he felt a little broad in the beam.
look broad in the beam
That coat makes her look broad in the beam.
a little broad in the beam
The puppy is a little broad in the beam but very healthy.

Synonyms and how they differ

wide-hipped
A neutral, descriptive term; 'broad in the beam' is more informal and can sound unkind.
stocky
Stocky describes a short, solid build; 'broad in the beam' focuses only on the width of the hips or bottom.
heavyset
A polite way to say someone has a large, solid body; 'broad in the beam' is more specific and more likely to cause offense.

Opposites

narrow-hippedslender

Word family

beam noun
The widest part of a ship; also a line of light or a piece of wood.

Commonly confused: broad in the beam or broad in the beam?

broad in the beam vs broad in the beam

Do not confuse with 'broad beam', which simply means a wide line of light.

Practice

Choose the best phrase: The old sailing ship was ______, which made it stable but slow.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “broad in the beam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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