all (all)

Phrases

all along

all the time; from the beginning: she’d known all along

all and sundry

everyone: he has borne a lot of unfair criticism from all and sundry

all but

• 1very nearly: the subject was all but forgotten

• 2all except: we have support from all but one of the networks

all comers

chiefly informal anyone who chooses to take part in an activity, typically a competition: the champion took on all comers

all for

informal strongly in favour of: I was all for tolerance

all get-out

see as —— as all get out (XRERROR: Target has been suppressed) at get-out

all in

informal exhausted: he was all in by half-timeSee also all-in

all in all

on the whole: all in all it’s been a good year

all kinds (or sorts) of

many different kinds of: he gets into all kinds of trouble

all manner of

see manner

all of

as much as (often used ironically of an amount or quantity considered small by the speaker): the show lasted all of six weeks

all of a sudden

see sudden

all-or-none

another way of saying all-or-nothing all-or-none judgements and positions

Physiology (of a response) having a strength independent of the strength of the stimulus that caused it: the calcium mobilization has an all-or-none property manifested as a sudden release of calcium

all-or-nothing

having no middle position or compromise available: an all-or-nothing decision

all out

using all one’s strength or resources: going all out to win [as adjective]: an all-out effort

all over

• 1completely finished: it’s all over between us

• 2 informal everywhere: there were bodies all over
• with reference to all parts of the body: I was shaking all over

• 3 informal typical of the person mentioned: that’s our management all over!

• 4 informal effusively attentive to: James was all over her

all over the place (or North American also map, British also shop)

informal

everywhere: we’ve been all over the place looking for you

in a state of disorder: my hair was all over the place

all round

(US all around)

• 1in all respects: it was a bad day all round [as modifier]: a man of all-round ability

• 2for or by each person: drinks all round

all sorts of

see all kinds of above

all's well that ends well

proverb if the outcome of a situation is happy, this compensates for any previous difficulty or unpleasantness.

all that ——

see that

all the same

see same

all the ——

see the (sense 6)

all there

[usually with negative] informal in full possession of one’s mental faculties: he’s not quite all there

all the time

see time

all together

all in one place or in a group; all at once: they arrived all togetherCompare with altogether

all told

in total: they tried a dozen times all told

all the way

informal without limit or reservation: I’m with you all the way

—— and all

used to emphasize something additional that is being referred to: she threw her coffee over him, mug and all

informal as well: get one for me and all

at all

[with negative or in questions] (used for emphasis) in any way; to any extent: I don’t like him at all

Irish added at the end of an utterance for emphasis: what is the matter with you at all?

be all one to

make no difference to: simple cases or hard cases, it’s all one to me

be all that

US informal be very attractive or good: He thinks he’s all that—Yeah, God’s gift

be all up with

see up

be all very well

informal used to criticize or reject a favourable or consoling remark: your proposal is all very well in theory, but in practice it will not pay

for all ——

in spite of ——: for all its clarity and style, the book is not easy reading

in all

in total number; altogether: there were about 5,000 people in all

on (or on to) all fours

on (or on to) hands and knees or (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones: Frankie scuttled away on all fours

one's all

one’s whole strength or resources: I want to give my all to what I am doing now