across the board

See also: across-the-board

English

Alternative forms

• across-the-board

Etymology

Originated with horse racing, where an "across the board" bet was one which covered first, second and third on the betting board.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Prepositional phrase

across the board

1. (idiomatic) Pertaining to all categories or things.
   • 1949, United States Congress Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, Hearings:

     […] in favor of a straight across-the-board salary increase […]

   • 1983, A. Premchard, Government Budgeting and Expenditure: Theory and Practice:

     A common technique (variously known as an emergency brake or meat axe budgeting) used by governments is across-the-board cuts;

   • 1998, Shahid Javed Burki, Guillermo Perry, Beyond the Washington Consensus: Institutions Matter:

     Chile provides the region's best example of a country that has successfully reformed its core public administration across the board.

2. (gambling) Having an equal amount staked on a competitor placing first, second, or third.
3. (chess) Of a move or sequence of play, made in response to developments occurring in the game, as opposed to pre-planned or according to theory.

Translations

pertaining to all categories or things

• Finnish: kaikenkattava, kautta laidan, kauttaaltaan (fi)
• French: généralisé (fr), répandu (fr), tous azimuts (fr)
• Hungarian: általános (hu), teljes körű
• Polish: we wszystkich dziedzinach, bez wyjątku, powszechny (pl) m
• Portuguese: generalizado (pt)
• Russian: по всем направле́ниям (po vsem napravlénijam), всеобщий (ru) (vseobščij)
• Spanish: ^{(please verify)} generalizado (es)
• Swedish: över hela linjen

a racing bet