tar (someone or something) with the same brush

To unfairly categorize someone or something as being the same as another person or thing, usually in a negative manner. Just because the CEO turned out to be a rotten scoundrel doesn't mean we should tar the entire company with the same brush. There is absolutely a segment of video game enthusiasts who create a hostile and toxic environment online, but tarring all gamers with the same brush does a disservice to the community.

See also: brush, same, tar

tarred with the same brush

Unfairly judged or categorized as being the same as another person or thing, usually in a negative manner. Just because the CEO turned out to be a rotten scoundrel doesn't mean the entire company should be tarred the with the same brush. There is absolutely a segment of video game enthusiasts who are hostile and toxic online, but I hate the fact that we all get tarred with the same brush because of them.

See also: brush, same, tar

tarred with the same brush

Fig. sharing the same characteristic(s); having the same good or bad points as someone else. Jack and his brother are tarred with the same brush. They're both crooks. The Smith children are tarred with the same brush. They're all lazy.

See also: brush, same, tar

tarred with the same brush

Having the same faults or bad qualities, as in He may be lazy, but if you ask me his friends are all tarred with the same brush. This term is thought to come from sheep farming, where the animals' sores were treated by brushing tar over them, and all the sheep in a flock were treated in the same way. The term was transferred to likeness in human beings in the early 1800s.

See also: brush, same, tar

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tarred with the same brush

Considered or described as having the same faults or bad qualities.

See also: brush, same, tar

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

See also:

References in periodicals archive

A MAJOR bookmaker yesterday sought distance from the controversy surrounding the issue of 'sleepers' - the millions of pounds of punters' unclaimed winnings - by insisting they did not want to be 'tarred with the same brush' as their rivals, writes Lee Mottershead.

Skybet keen not to be 'tarred with same brush' on sleepers

May, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, wants to see the introduction of a two-tier system that ensures genuine drug cheats are caught and punished but saves `technical` offenders from being tarred with the same brush.

Cricket World Cup: May calls for policy change

The loudest denunciations of the Islamists are heard from shocked Muslims, who must never be tarred with the same brush.

Let Julian unite us all; VOICE OF THE

They were tarred with the same brush, though the majority were decent kids dressing in what they considered to be smart clothing.

Peakies weren't all bad

These are the individuals and families who have no intention of working and cause everyone who really does need compassion and help to be tarred with the same brush.

Tories target wrong gang of spongers

"But there were a lot of players who weren't out at all, so they shouldn't be tarred with the same brush."

GOALIE'S WIFE REVEALS BRUM'S BIG NIGHT OUT

They are now tarred with the same brush and both parties will be judged for their actions against the people of this country in next month's local elections.

Tarred with Tory brush; Your shout

Some hope - they appear to be all tarred with the same brush. In conclusion, we do not reside in the Yorkshire Dales or a remote village on Dartmoor, but all within the city boundary, so we should expect a far more reasonable attitude.

Passengers suffering bus service blues; Letters letters@coventrytelegraph.net

I find it most objectionable to be tarred with the same brush as greedy, deceitful, scroungers whether they are in Parliament or not.

Don't tar me with same brush as MPs; VOICE OF THE NORTH

I amalso fed up of being tarred with the same brush as some of these "kings on Saturday night/b***er-all Sunday morning" town drivers that unfortunately do operate in our city.

Letter: Viewpoints - Piping up for the genuine taxi drivers

So come on, dog owners, do the decent thing and "scoop the poop" before all dog owners get tarred with the same brush.

Your Say - Ditch the dirt

They know that unless police crack down on the bad eggs, all Muslims will be tarred with the same brush. And no one wants that!

Malone: FREE SPEECH, NOT FREE RIDE

The problem for the millions of animal rights supporters like myself now, is that the public are brainwashed into thinking we are all tarred with the same brush. When the truth is, most of us get our message out peacefully, and though it may take a lot longer to achieve victory, it is the only way true animal rights people will operate.

Your LETTERS : Don't tar us all

'Everyone's been tarred with the same brush,' said Brewin Dolphin's Mr Parkinson.

City View: Interserve discounts warning on results

All shares were suddenly tarred with the same brush and the consequence was equity selling on a massive scale.

Money: Regular systematic fraud; SHARES: Corporate governance a big issue