across

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: board

fire a shot across someone's/the bows (slightly formal)

if you fire a shot across someone's bows, you do something in order to warn them that you will take strong action if they do not change their behaviour. Airline staff have fired a warning shot across the company's bows by threatening strike action if higher pay increases are not offered.

See also: bow, fire, shot

a rap across/on/over the knuckles

a punishment which is not very severe but which warns you not to behave that way again. The company received a rap over the knuckles from the Food and Drug Administration. Her remarks earned her a sharp rap across the knuckles from the Prime Minister.

See also: knuckle, over, rap

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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: board

come across (someone/something)

to happen to find someone or something. I was looking through a magazine and came across an interesting article on American artists.

See also: come

come across (as)

to appear to have a particular attitude or character. Sometimes he seemed like a good old pal, but other times he came across as an angry and unpleasant man.

See also: come

cut across something

to include many different groups. The appeal of these coffee places cuts across all social levels.

See also: cut

get across something

to successfully communicate something. As a coach, I have to get across to the players what I want from them.

run across someone

to meet someone without planning to. You don't run across many people who don't own a TV.

See also: run

run across something

to find something without specifically looking for it. While looking for a present for my father, I ran across the most interesting book.

See also: run

a shot across the bow

a warning to stop doing something. The lawsuit is a shot across the bow to businesses that are competing unfairly.

Etymology: based on the military practice of aiming a shot across the bow (= a small explosion in front of a ship) to force it to stop

See also: bow, shot

stumble across someone/something

to meet someone or find something unexpectedly. Lee has stumbled across a plot to sell high-tech US weapons to international terrorists. Border Patrol agents stumbled on the drugs when they were on a routine patrol.

See also: stumble