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• across-the-board
  across-the-board

  adjective

  applying to all employees, members, groups, or categories; general.
• across the board
  across the board

  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.

across-the-board

American  

[uh-kraws-thuh-bawrd, -bohrd, uh-kros-] / əˈkrɔs ðəˈbɔrd, -ˈboʊrd, əˈkrɒs- /

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.

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across-the-board British  

adjective

1. (of salary increases, taxation cuts, etc) affecting all levels or classes equally

2. horse racing the US term for each way

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across the board Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of across-the-board

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

across-the-board across the board

But in order to prevent an across-the-board cut to benefits, Congress must make changes to shore up the program.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026

The governor has largely resisted adopting new across-the-board tax increases or sharply curtailing his expensive policy proposals in order to align state spending with revenue.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

The move to an across-the-board tariff of 10%, with carve-outs for some kinds of goods, had already reset the competitive landscape, putting shipments from all countries on even footing.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

The administration’s intention is to replace the across-the-board charge with a series of country-specific duties through a separate process under Article 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

I've never considered myself an across-the-board apologist for the French, but there's a lot to be said for an entire population that never, under any circumstances, talks during the picture.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

But, as a dedicated student, Kane impressed his teachers across the board.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Early gains for European AI-linked stocks faded through morning trade, while a sharp fall in banks and other rate-sensitive sectors saw major European indexes fall by more than 1% across the board.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"So yes, 20 percent reduction across the board," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

There are many attractive numbers here, including solid growth projections across the board.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

I dipped my fingers into the cool sack of flour, sprinkled a handful across the board, and began to roll out the dough.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

Related Words

• sweeping