board

across the board

if something is done, happens, or exists across the board, it is done, happens, or exists in every part or area of something. The company is proposing to cut spending right across the board. Even as late as September, there are still course vacancies across the board, although the majority are in sciences.

See also: across

back to the drawing board

if you go back to the drawing board, you have to start planning a piece of work again because the previous plan failed. If the education reform is too expensive to implement, it's back to the drawing board for the committee. Our proposal might not be accepted, in which case we'll have to go back to the drawing board.

See also: back, drawing

be above board

to be honest and legal. The deal was completely above board.

See also: above

be as stiff as a board

1. to be very stiff. It's so cold out there - the washing was as stiff as a board when I brought it in off the line.

2. if you are as stiff as a board, your body feels stiff and hurts when you try to move it, usually after a lot of physical exercise. I cycled fifty miles yesterday and when I woke this morning I was as stiff as a board.

See also: stiff

go by the board (British, American & Australian, American)

if something that has been planned or arranged goes by the board, it does not happen, and if something that exists goes by the board, it ends. All our careful arrangements went by the board when the trip was cancelled at the last minute. When modern machinery was introduced, old-fashioned printing methods went by the board.

on board

if someone is on board, they are working with an organization or group of people. A new financial director has been brought on board to help us assess the cost of the project. We hope to have a new doctor on board by the end of the month.

sweep the board (British)

to win all the prizes or votes in a competition or an election. Her latest film swept the boards at last night's cinema awards. The liberals look set to sweep the board in the local elections.

See also: sweep

take on board something

to understand and accept ideas and opinions which may change the way you behave in the future. Banks need to take on board the views of their customers. It seems that young people are finally taking on board the message that it's not cool to smoke.

See also: take

tread the boards

to act in the theatre. So you're treading the boards these days, Emma. Earning any money?

See also: tread

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across the board

including all parts of something. The new law reduces taxes on products across the board, from wheat to cars to cell phones.

See also: across

go back to the drawing board

to start something again because the previous attempt failed. Researchers went back to the drawing board to find where they went wrong.

Usage notes: sometimes used without go: When we thought we were finished, he sent us back to the drawing board and asked us to completely redo it.

back to square one

See also: back, drawing

go by the board

to stop existing. Alsop complained that the world he knew as a young man had gone by the board.

Usage notes: also used in the form go by the boards

on board

1. supporting something. While most of us might be OK about interracial dating, some people aren't on board with the notion.

2. working with someone. It's a well-financed organization, and it has some well-known people on board.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of on board (= on an aircraft, train, or ship)