all over the map

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all over the map

1. (idiomatic) Widely scattered or distributed; numerous and differing greatly.
   • 2008, "A Financial Earthquake," Newsweek, 9 Aug.,

     The reactions were swift, impassioned and all over the map.

   • 2009, Pauline Frommer, Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas‎‎, →ISBN, page 58:

     Prices are even more all over the map than usual here; I've seen them range from just $36 all the way up to $160...

   • 1985, Jon Pareles, "Music: Ruben Blades's Salsa," New York Times, 28 Oct.,

     The Kip Hanrahan Band, which opened the concert, is after its own ambitious American-Latin fusion, with internationalist rhythms, introspective lyrics and musicians from all over the map.

2. (idiomatic) In widely scattered directions; in a widely varying manner.
   • 2008, Scott Petrak, "Browns notes: PGA contender," The Chronicle-Telegram (Ohio), 13 Aug. (retrieved 13 Aug 2008),

     “I hit it all over the map,” Anderson joked.

• all over
• all over the board
• all over the place
• all over the shop