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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Across the board

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Affecting every part, level or group within the area being discussed.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. Customer feedback improved across the board after the training.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.

Customer feedback improved ________ after the training.
Show the answer

Across the board — Affecting every part, level or group within the area being discussed.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Across the board” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Affecting every part, level or group within the area being discussed.

Compare: Customer feedback improved across the board after the training.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it for a change or result that applies widely throughout an organisation or system. It suits workplace discussion and general writing.

More examples in context

  • The club raised membership fees across the board.
  • We need clearer instructions across the board, from registration to the final task.

Usage note

Use hyphens before a noun: “an across-the-board increase.” The phrase concerns the whole stated group; context defines the scope.

A short conversation

A: Did only the evening classes receive new materials?
B: No, the update was across the board. Every class received them.
A: That keeps the resources consistent.

One more practice question

If a rule changes across the board in a club, who is affected?

A. Only one specially selected member.
B. Every relevant group in the club.

Check your answer

B. The change applies throughout the stated group or system.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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