across-the-board

[ uh-kraws-thuh-bawrd, -bohrd, uh-kros- ]

adjective

1. applying to all employees, members, groups, or categories; general:

   The across-the-board pay increase means a raise for all employees.

2. (of a bet) covering all possibilities of winning on a given result, especially by placing a combination bet on one horse in a race for win, place, and show.

across-the-board

adjective

1. (of salary increases, taxation cuts, etc) affecting all levels or classes equally
2. horse racing the US term for each way

Word History and Origins

Origin of across-the-board¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Idioms and Phrases

Applying to all the individuals in a group, as in They promised us an across-the-board tax cut , that is, one applying to all taxpayers, regardless of income. This expression comes from horse racing, where it refers to a bet that covers all possible ways of winning money on a race: win (first), place (second), or show (third). The board here is the notice-board on which the races and betting odds are listed. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

Example Sentences

Trump should have to convince Congress that enacting across-the-board tariffs would be consistent with his geopolitical goals and would be worth the economic costs.

From Los Angeles Times

The two spoke by phone earlier in the week after Trump announced that, upon taking office in January, he would slap an across-the-board tariff on all products entering the US from Mexico and Canada.

From BBC

Trump announced on Monday that, upon taking office in January, he would slap an across-the-board tariff on Mexico and Canada - with no suggestion that would exclude oil and gas.

From BBC

The standardized tests are imperfect, but they are closer to an objective, across-the-board measure than anything else available, especially in light of grade inflation.

From Los Angeles Times

On Monday, Trump alarmed US trading partners as he vowed upon taking office in January to slap an across-the-board tariff of 25% on Mexico and Canada, and a 10% tariff on China.

From BBC