diff --git a/bash/bash_aliases b/bash/bash_aliases
index a2ca4f547..7ca010248 100644
--- a/bash/bash_aliases
+++ b/bash/bash_aliases
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ alias t="date +%T"
 alias ll="ls -alh"
 alias fuck='sudo "$BASH" -c "$(history -p !!)"'
 
+# improve default options for CLI tools
+alias diff="diff --side-by-side --left-column -W $COLUMNS"
+
 # OS functions (TODO: should be broken out and pulled in based on OS)
 alias apt-all="sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get full-upgrade -y; sudo apt-get autoremove -y; sudo apt-get clean -y;"
 alias rpm-all="rpm-ostree upgrade"