tarred with the same brush


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Related to tarred with the same brush: on account of, paint with the same brush

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

tarred with the same brush

Considered or described as having the same faults or bad qualities.
See also: brush, same, tar
References in periodicals archive ?
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 know many are not to be tarred with the same brush, but they generally seem to keep themselves indoors away from the more feral varieties who prowl our streets.
Letter: Feral fears
Even within 'sink estates' there exist respectable citizens who have no alternative but to live there through no fault of their own, and they too are tarred with the same brush.
A feral minority
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
No surprise her prettier sister, Pixie, 16, doesn't want to be tarred with the same brush.
RADAR: Peaches Geldof
The Indian community does not want to be associated with race riots and protests but because society always uses the "Asian" description we are tarred with the same brush.
Letter: Indians respect Britian; YOUR LETTERS
Now they are being tarred with the same brush as some of the less desirable elements in the community.
Flat cap ban has farmers seething
Skybet spokesman Dale Tempest said: 'We don't want to be tarred with the same brush as High Street bookmakers on the subject of sleepers.
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
People seem to think that we are tarred with the same brush as these people who employ or take money from prostitutes.
LAP-DANCING CLUB SAYS: `YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET'
I believe that a rational investor will conclude that all companies should not be tarred with the same brush and that the results of South Pacific's current drill programs will soon speak for themselves.
South Pacific - Market Reaction Unwarranted
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
I do not like being tarred with the same brush as Jimmy Savile if he has been doing this.
Starr wants police probe over claims
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
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