across-the-board
Affecting everyone equally
Across-the-board means applying to all members of a group without exception: an across-the-board pay raise, across-the-board budget cuts.
The phrase comes from horse racing, where a bet placed "across the board" covers win, place, and show—all three positions.
The modifier emphasizes uniformity and comprehensiveness: The policy affects everyone across the board.
Affecting all equally
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- blanketSoft bed covering
- all-inclusiveCovering every element
- uniformIdentical throughout
all-encompassing · wide-ranging · broad-based · wholesale · inclusive · extensive · thorough · complete
universal
Affecting all equally
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- blanketSoft bed covering
- all-inclusiveCovering every element
uniform · all-encompassing · wide-ranging · broad-based · wholesale · inclusive · extensive · thorough · complete · total
- completenesscomplete, completely, entire, totally, total
- totalityall, entirety, everything, whole, totality
across-the-boardpartial
Favoring one side
limited · selective · localized · fragmentary · incomplete
across-the-boardtargeted
Chosen for specific attention
selective · specific · individual · discriminating · particular
cross, board, across, crossing, cupboard, keyboard, aboard, dashboard, boardwalk