Sometimes idiomatic expressions bring together different walks of life. Across the board is an idiom with roots in horse racing, but it’s not exclusive to equestrian enthusiasts. This phrase has trotted its way into business and politics and is now commonly used. So, sit tight as I break down the meaning behind across the board and teach you how to use it in a sentence.
Across the Board Meaning Explained
Simply put, across the board means applying to everyone or everything within a certain group or system. If a decision or change is across the board, it affects every individual or aspect without exception.
It’s like when a big chain of stores makes a change to their store policies. It doesn’t just apply to one store. It would be all of them, so the changes are across the board.
What Does Across the Board Mean in Horse Racing?
In the world of horse racing, an across-the-board bet is one where equal amounts of money are wagered on the same horse to win, place and show in a race. If the horse succeeds, the bettor gets a payout for each result.
Across the Board or Across-the-Board?
I actually used the hyphenated version in the paragraph above! When you use this phrase as an adverb or adjective before a noun, you’d typically hyphenate it as across-the-board.
- We need an across-the-board increase in funding. (Modifies the noun increase)
When it’s used elsewhere in a sentence, you should write it without the hyphens because it’s no longer an adverb or adjective.
- The new policy applies across the board. (Here, it stands on its own)
Origin and Etymology of Across the Board
The phrase’s origins trace back to American horse racing in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. A horse that won across the board was victorious in all betting categories: winning, placing and showing. This term was later extended metaphorically to describe a situation that affects all sectors equally.
One early use of the phrase in print was in 1901 in The Atlanta Constitution, where it said, “Cousin Jess won the steeplechase after a hard drive in the stretch, lowering the best previous time of 4 09 by seven seconds. Dr. Einus in the fourth race, a 100 to 1 shot, heavily played across the board, ran second.”
Synonyms for Across the Board
Don’t feel like using a horse-racing term? Try one of these instead!
- Universally
- All-inclusive
- Comprehensively
- Broadly
- Completely
Across the Board Examples in a Sentence
- The tech CEO announced across-the-board bonuses for all his employees next year.
- Our education department is seeking an across-the-board improvement in test scores for grades seven to nine.
- My boss just announced major across-the-board budget cuts for the next quarter.
- Their local charity has seen donations decrease across the board because of economic instability.
- Would you believe that after everything, they still want across-the-board spending cuts?
- Our government promised across-the-board carbon cuts with all major oil companies.
- We need to make across-the-board healthy decisions for our family.
- The system updates are across the board.
Bottom Line
And just like that, you’ve crossed the finish line! Now you’re armed with the details of across the board, so you’ve added a new idiom to your verbal repertoire. Remember, idioms add color and context to your language, making it as lively and dynamic as a horse race. So, don’t hesitate to use them across the board!
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