deck-chair

A passenger relaxes in a deck-chair on the sunny deck.

Definition

Noun: A deck chair is a lightweight, folding chair with a long seat and a back that can be adjusted to a reclining position, typically used outdoors on the deck of a ship, at the beach, or in a garden for relaxation.

Usage Examples

• (A folding chair used for relaxation on a vessel.)
• (Portable chairs for outdoor leisure.)
• (Chairs placed in a garden setting for seating.)

Advanced Usage

• "Deck chair" can be used metaphorically to suggest a relaxed, leisurely setting or a temporary, informal arrangement.
  • The conference was more like a deck chair gathering than a formal meeting. (An informal, relaxed atmosphere.)

Variants and Related Words

• Deck (n): the flat area on a ship or building that serves as a floor.

  • We stood on the deck watching the sunset. (The outdoor platform of a ship.)

• Chair (n): a seat with a back, typically for one person.

  • He pulled up a chair to the table. (A standard piece of furniture for sitting.)

Synonyms

• Folding chair: a chair that can be collapsed for storage or transport.
• Chaise longue: a long chair for reclining, though typically not folding.
• Sun lounger: a chair designed for sunbathing, often adjustable.

Related Idioms

• "Deck chair" does not commonly appear in idioms, but it is associated with "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic", meaning to make small, pointless changes in the face of a larger disaster.
  • Arguing about the color of the office walls while the company is failing is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. (Focusing on trivial matters during a crisis.)