boardinghouse reach noun2 •The ability to reach a long distance across a table to get desired food.He developed his boardinghouse reach in the oil fields. •The act of reaching across a table to get desired food, often considered poor etiquette because it invades others' personal space.Avoid the boardinghouse reach. Reach for something only within the invisible boundary that separates your personal space from the other diners'. — 2005 formsboardinghouse reaches
