overhaul
to renew or repair something (i.e. a machine)
TRANSLATION
overhaul = ausbessern, reparieren, wieder instandsetzen complete overhaul = Grundüberholung, Generalüberholung, völlige Überholung --- GOOGLE INDEX overhaul: approximately 46,500,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Prisons 'overhaul' announced by David Cameron. Six "reform prisons" are to be created in England and Wales as part of a pilot to tackle high levels of violence and re-offending, David Cameron has said.
BBC News
BBC News
Did you
know?
overhaul
verb & noun
- to repair or improve something so it works well
(Cambridge Dictionary)
Sailors have their own language, which can sometimes be categorized as rather "salty," meaning down-to-earth, coarse, rough. Apart from its colourful nature, nautical language is full of expressions that have become integrated into a wide range of English expressions and idioms. Overhaul is one of those.
This term was originally used in the days of sailing ships to refer to releasing the rope tackle for the sailing rig by slackening it. This was done by hauling it in the opposite direction of which it is pulled when hoisting the sail. Thus it was literally "hauled over" in order to pull the rig apart to examine it.
Apart from overhauling equipment and machines, even other less tangible things can overhauled, such as a corporate strategy, a marketing campaign or a personnel policy.
Other useful nautical phrases that you might hear include:
- take the wind out of someone's sails = to make someone feel less confident or determined (Her response to his criticism really took the wind out of his sails)
- a loose cannon = someone who is unpredictable and causes difficulties (Don't invite him to the customer meeting. He can be a loose cannon.)
- high and dry = abandoned, unsupported (My co-workers left the office early today, leaving me high and dry)
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SYNONYMS
fix, mend, modernize, rebuild, reconstruct, re-do, refurbish, repair, restore, revamp
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SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our website is over 5 years old, it really needs a complete overhaul."
verb & noun
- to repair or improve something so it works well
(Cambridge Dictionary)
Sailors have their own language, which can sometimes be categorized as rather "salty," meaning down-to-earth, coarse, rough. Apart from its colourful nature, nautical language is full of expressions that have become integrated into a wide range of English expressions and idioms. Overhaul is one of those.
This term was originally used in the days of sailing ships to refer to releasing the rope tackle for the sailing rig by slackening it. This was done by hauling it in the opposite direction of which it is pulled when hoisting the sail. Thus it was literally "hauled over" in order to pull the rig apart to examine it.
Apart from overhauling equipment and machines, even other less tangible things can overhauled, such as a corporate strategy, a marketing campaign or a personnel policy.
Other useful nautical phrases that you might hear include:
- take the wind out of someone's sails = to make someone feel less confident or determined (Her response to his criticism really took the wind out of his sails)
- a loose cannon = someone who is unpredictable and causes difficulties (Don't invite him to the customer meeting. He can be a loose cannon.)
- high and dry = abandoned, unsupported (My co-workers left the office early today, leaving me high and dry)
---
SYNONYMS
fix, mend, modernize, rebuild, reconstruct, re-do, refurbish, repair, restore, revamp
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"Our website is over 5 years old, it really needs a complete overhaul."
