stiff as a board

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Meaning · English

Very stiff.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The rigidity of the corpse was excessive; after about two hours and a half it was stiff as a board.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “stiff as a board” mean?

Very stiff.

Is “stiff as a board” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.