all

Phrases

all along

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

all and sundry

everyone:insolent drivers crying to all and sundry to get out of the way

all around (also Britishall round)

• 1in all respects:it was a bad day all around

• 2for or by each person:drinks all around good acting all around

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 favor of:I was all for tolerance

all in

informal exhausted:he was all in by halftime

all in all

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

all kinds (or sorts) of

many different kinds of:how to install paneling on all kinds of walls

all manner of

see manner.

all of

as much as (typically used ironically of a quantity considered small by the speaker):the show lasted all of six weeks

all of a sudden

see sudden.

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 (someone):James was all over her

all over the place (or map)

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 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:5,000 people all together 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 waySee also go all the way at 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:it must hit him hard, being so young 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 did he suffer at all?

be all about ——

informal be focused on or interested in (a particular thing):school has become my refuge and I’m all about being the perfect student

be all one to someone

make no difference to someone: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 express criticism or rejection of a favorable 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

of all

see of.

on all fours

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

one and all

see one.