IDIOMS

World of sports

IN ENGLISH, THE BUSINESS WORLD DRAWS SIGNIFICANT INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD OF SPORTS, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN MANY COMMONLY USED EXPRESSIONS. WE HAVE COMPILED A LIST OF OVER 130 SUCH EXPRESSIONS, COMPLETE WITH EXPLANATIONS AND EXAMPLES.

ACROSS THE BOARD.
Person tying their shoe — preparing for consistent action across the board in business or life

The expression "across the board" originated in horse racing, where it referred to a type of bet covering the top three possible outcomes for a horse in a race: win (first place), place (second place), and show (third place). By betting "across the board," a person wagered on all three outcomes simultaneously, with payouts varying based on whether the horse finished first, second, or third.

Over time, this expression transitioned into everyday language, particularly in the business world. Today, it is commonly used to indicate that something applies uniformly to all aspects of an organization or to everyone involved.

Examples:

  • We will have a 10% profit share across the board as this year yielded good results.

  • As we anticipate negative growth this year, we will cut spending across the board.

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