Englishacross the board
Meaning: Equally for everyone, for everything, or in all cases.
Example: “The company announced pay raises across the board.”
Origin: From American horse racing in the late 1800s and early 1900s: a bettor who wagered a horse "across the board" was covering all three winning positions at once — win, place, and show — literally betting money against every relevant line posted on the bookmaker's results board. The earliest known appearance in print is a 1901 newspaper account of a steeplechase, describing a long-shot horse "heavily played across the board." By the mid-1900s the phrase had left the racetrack behind, applied instead to anything covering every category equally — a raise given to every employee, a rule applied to every department.
More English idioms
- all wet Wrong to the point of being silly or unbelievable.
- ax to grind A hidden reason for wanting something or for not liking someone or something.
- backhanded compliment A criticism that is phrased in such a way that it appears to be a compliment.
- have bats in one's belfry Harmlessly crazy or eccentric.
- beat a hasty retreat To run very fast in the opposite direction.
- beat someone to the punch To do something before someone else does it.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tu as de la répartie You're brilliantly quick-witted — always ready with the perfect comeback.
- Eres un crack You're brilliant — a total star at what you do.
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