Welcome to English in a Minute. The phrase across the board comes from horse racing.
A bet placed on horses that come in first, second, and third is an across the board bet.
But we use this in other ways too. Dan, don't forget pickleball practice tonight.
We don't practice on Fridays. Coach said all members across the board
must practice pickleball before a big pickleball game. But I lead our team in wins.
Even great pickleball players need pickleball practice, Dan.
Okay, fine. Just please stop saying pickleball. Pickleball.
If something is across the board, it affects everything or everyone within a system the
same way. Even the best pickleball players on a pickleball team.