side-by-side arrangement; parallel positioning
Describes objects or people lined up horizontally, often in a row. Can be used literally or figuratively for things that are equal or aligned.
We arranged the desks side by side.
A street lined with houses standing side by side.
following the crowd; going along with others
Often used in business or social contexts to describe a tendency to imitate others or avoid standing out, e.g., companies adopting the same policies.
You can't win the competition with pricing that just follows other companies.
In an organization with a strong herd mentality, innovation is unlikely to emerge.
equal treatment; egalitarian approach
Refers to treating everyone or everything the same way, without differentiation. Can carry a nuance of uniformity that may be positive (fairness) or negative (lack of flexibility).
Instead of raising salaries uniformly, we should differentiate based on performance.
Uniform service won't satisfy customers.