Across-the-board
(adjective)
- Affecting all sections, groups, or categories.
- Covering all parts or elements, without exception.
- Encompassing or affecting the whole range of a particular group or category.
Origin:
Late 19th century: originally as across-the-board bet in horseracing, in which a bet is placed on a horse to win or be placed in every race of the day; the current sense dates from the mid 20th century.
Examples:
- The company announced an across-the-board pay raise for all employees.
- The new policy will have an across-the-board impact on the industry.
- The school is implementing an across-the-board ban on cell phones.
- The recession caused an across-the-board decline in real estate values.
- The strike caused an across-the-board disruption of transportation services.