Across the Board
Definition
Across the board – Affecting all classes and categories indiscriminately. The term finds its origins in American horse racing, wherein placing a bet “across the board” meant covering all winning possibilities—win (first place), place (second place), or show (third place). By around 1950, its use extended to variegated situations, particularly of an economic nature, like across-the-board wage increases (for every employee), tax reductions (for all brackets), airfare hikes, and the like.
Synonyms
- Equally
- Without exception
- Across-the-board
- Universally
- Comprehensively
Antonyms
- Selectively
- Partially
- Exclusively
- Incompletely
- Unequally
Funky Quotes to Flash at Friends
- “Giving an across-the-board raise is like Oprah giving away her favorite things—you get a raise, and you get a raise!” 🎁—Ava Lanche
- “Treating life’s chaos across the board is like using a mop to clean up spilled milk and a moon landing mishap with equal gusto.” 🌜—Homer Sapient
Espresso-Sized Proverbs
- “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
- “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Love-to-Read References
- Literature: Common Sense by Thomas Paine explores revolutionary ideas that transcended across all societal statuses.
- Movies: A Beautiful Mind touches on the broad impact contributions from all can have intellectually.
- Songs: Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” applies the value of diamonds across all women.
- Books: Freakonomics by Steven Levitt presents analyses with across-the-board impacts on economics and life.
### Which of these phrases means affecting all categories?
- [x] Across the board
- [ ] Up in the air
- [ ] In between the lines
- [ ] Over the moon
> **Explanation:** "Across the board" indicates affecting everyone in a group or all categories equally. The others pertain to uncertainty ("up in the air"), subtlety ("in between the lines"), and extreme happiness ("over the moon").
### What concept comes closest to an 'across the board' effect?
- [x] Universally
- [ ] Partially
- [ ] Selectively
- [ ] Occasionally
> **Explanation:** "Universally" means everywhere or involving everyone, closely matching the "across the board" effect. The other concepts imply limited or partial impacts.
### True or False: "Across the board" originally came from British monarchy terminology.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. The term originated from American horse racing, referring to comprehensive bets covering multiple possible winning positions.
Author’s Farewell: “Remember, life might offer you a buffet of choices, but often the best experiences encompass everything on the menu. With across-the-board appreciation, keep growing, glowing, and universally glowing.” - Ella P. Esthetic
