Phrase guide

tar with the same brush

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtaː wɪ‿ðə seɪm ˈbɹʌʃ/
  • General-American: /ˈtaɹ wɪ‿ðə seɪm ˈbɹʌʃ/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌʃ

1

verb

Meaning 1

To characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • The C Party have tarred themselves with the same brush as the B Party.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paint with the same brush, tar with the same stick

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From tar (“to coat with tar; to besmirch”), in the sense of two or more persons or things being soiled with the same thing.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 一竹篙打沉一船人 (jat1 zuk1 gou1 daa2 cam4 jat1 syun4 jan4) — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Chinese Cantonese: 一竹篙打死一船人 (jat1 zuk1 gou1 daa2 sei2 jat1 syun4 jan4) — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Chinese Cantonese: 一竹篙打一船人 (jat1 zuk1 gou1 daa2 jat1 syun4 jan4) — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 一竿子打翻一船人 (yī gānzi dǎfān yī chuán rén) — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Dutch: over een kam scheren — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Finnish: niputtaa yhteen — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Finnish: rinnastaa — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • French: fourrer dans le même sac — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • French: mettre dans le même panier — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • French: mettre dans le même sac — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • German: über einen Kamm scheren — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Italian: fare d'ogni erba un fascio — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skjære alle over én kam — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Polish: generalizować — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Romanian: arunca în aceeași oală — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Russian: косить под одну гребёнку (kositʹ pod odnu grebjónku) — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Spanish: meter en el mismo saco — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Swedish: dra alla över en kam — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly
  • Swedish: skära alla över en kam — to characterize (someone or something) using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly