English

Verb

paint with a broad brush

1. (idiomatic) To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
   • 1958, H. Boyle and J. House, "Folklore in the News: Businessmen's Bebop," Western Folklore, vol. 17, no. 1, p. 63:

     I'm just painting with a broad brush. You fellows fill in the details.

   • 1981, D. N., "Review of Global Signposts to the 21st Century by John A. Loraine," Population and Development Review, vol. 7, no. 2, p. 363:

     To cover this range of issues is clearly to paint with a broad brush on a global canvas.

   • 1998 Oct. 5, Ron Stodghill, "Daring To Go There," Time:

     Painting slavery with a broad brush in literature, film and even political debate has kept us from knowing the real horror and heroism of the institution.

Related terms

• broad-brush