board a cab

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "board a cab" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of getting into a taxi or cab for transportation. Example: "After a long day of meetings, I decided to board a cab to get home quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In one example, up to four passengers could board a cab at Pennsylvania Station and pay $4 each to be dropped off along Avenue of the Americas as far north as 59th Street.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If I put myself completely in the shoes of Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown, or even a black man denied the opportunity to board a taxi cab, I must accept the reality that my world and my America isn't their world and their America.

Huffington Post

He trotted off and presently returned on the running board of a cab, into which he handed her.

The New Yorker

After they landed on a dirt strip, they boarded a Volkswagen Beetle cab, though no road was in sight as they headed toward the village of Oriximina to let soldiers know of their arrival in case they disappeared later.

The New York Times

There are written policies (such as bylaws) that govern CABs or other boards at 57% of CTSAs and explicit requirements to serve in a leadership capacity on a CAB or board at 21%.

Clinical and Translational Science

It was hot as blazes in Illinois when the board member and I got a cab from the airport to the address on the Evanston campus.

Forbes

The center has two advisory boards in the community, a community advisory board (CAB), which advises on all center studies, and an Intervention Farmworker Council (IFC), which was formed specifically to participate in the development and analysis of the intervention study.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The Campus Activities Board (CAB), a student-run organization, runs several committees that oversee campus-wide activities and student services.

Wikipedia

They allegedly took a cab to Manchester Airport and then boarded a plane to the Caribbean.

Independent

After developing a community advisory board (CAB), as described below, we conducted a baseline survey of a cross-sectional sample of farmworkers (year 1).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Lanley grabs his money and tries to escape in a cab to the airport, where he plans to board a flight to Tahiti.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "board a cab" when you want to specifically describe the action of getting into a taxi, especially when you want to emphasize the beginning of the journey.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "board a cab" can sound slightly formal in everyday conversation. In casual settings, consider using alternatives like "get in a cab" or "hop in a cab" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "board a cab" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of entering a taxi. It combines the verb 'board' with the noun phrase 'a cab' to depict the commencement of a ride, as evidenced in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "board a cab" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that means to get into a taxi. While Ludwig confirms its correctness and offers many examples, keep in mind that more informal alternatives like "get in a cab" might be more suitable for casual conversations. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and is applicable in various contexts related to describing or narrating events involving taxi rides. Although it is neutral, it could be replaced by less formal alternatives, according to context requirements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get in a taxi

Focuses on the action of entering, similar to "board", but more general.

hop in a cab

Implies a quick or casual entry into the taxi.

enter a taxi

A more formal and direct way of saying "board a cab".

take a cab

Focuses on the overall act of using a taxi for transportation, rather than just the entry.

catch a cab

Highlights the act of finding and securing a taxi.

get a taxi

Focuses on obtaining the taxi for use.

hire a taxi

Emphasizes the act of paying for a taxi service.

call a cab

Focuses on the action of requesting a taxi.

flag down a taxi

Highlights the action of signaling for a taxi to stop.

summon a taxi

A more formal way of calling a taxi.

FAQs

What does "board a cab" mean?

The phrase "board a cab" means to get into a taxi or cab, typically to begin a journey or commute.

Are there more casual alternatives to "board a cab"?

Yes, in more casual contexts, you can use phrases like "get in a cab" or "hop in a cab".

How is "board a cab" different from "take a cab"?

"Board a cab" emphasizes the act of entering the taxi. "Take a cab" focuses on the overall action of using a taxi for transportation.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "board a cab"?

It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts when you specifically want to describe the action of getting into a taxi. However, in very casual conversations, consider a more relaxed alternative like "get in a cab".