Fresh off the boat

The phrase fresh off the boat (FOB), or just off the boat (OTB), is sometimes-derogatory terms used to describe immigrants who have arrived from a foreign nation and have yet to assimilate into the host nation's culture, language, and behavior, but still continue with their ethnic ideas and practices. Within Asian-American circles in the United States, the phrase is considered politically incorrect and derogatory. It can also be used to describe the stereotypical behavior of new immigrants as, for example, their poor driving skills, that they are educated yet working low-skilled or unskilled jobs, and their use of broken English.

The term originates in the early days of immigration, when people mostly migrated to other countries by ship. "Fresh off the Boeing 707" (in reference to the Boeing 707 jet) is sometimes used in the United States as a variation, especially among East, South, and Southeast Asian immigrants. In the United Kingdom, "fresh off the boat" (mostly in regard to Pakistanis and other South Asians, but can include other immigrant groups) are referred to as "freshies" or simply "FOBs". In New Zealand, the terms freshy and fob are used to refer derogatorily to people of Pacific Island ancestry (especially recent arrivals).

In the sociology of ethnicity, this term can be seen as an indicator of a nature of diasporic communities, or communities that have left their country of origin and migrated, usually permanently, to another country. The term has also been adapted by immigrants themselves or others in their community who see the differentiation as a source of pride, where they have retained their culture and have not lost it to assimilation.

Instead of taking this harm-intended phrase as an insult, many immigrants and more specifically, East and South Asians (especially their American-born children) may use this term to describe their cultural background habits and fashion sense, for example "fobby clothing", "fobby glasses", "fobby accent", and others. Similarly, some in the Arab-American community in Michigan refer to themselves as "Boaters", using it as a term of endearment, while others see it as an insult.

The Daryanani Law Group documents the struggles of ethnic communities to understand the English language. From high-schoolers to college students like Rishikesh Balaji, a "fob" mentioned in the article, common societal events like not knowing who O. J. Simpson is and confusing it with Homer Simpson are day-to-day struggles that can be difficult and often be a comedic focus in their lives. In some instances, an "ethnic community" may find it difficult to assimilate with their new culture. Although some try to assimilate, they may fail due to the very swift transition to the host continent.