all over the board
Completely disorganized or inconsistent
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all over the map
Completely disorganized or inconsistent
all over the shop
Scattered in every direc- tion, all over the place ; or pursuing an erratic course.
all over the world
Everywhere on the planet
all over with
completely finished or ended
all points of the compass
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies. (John Arbuthnot)
Political parties ultimately fail due to their own deceit
all rights reserved
Copyright is enforced and no part can be used without permission
All rising to great place is by a winding stair. (Francis Bacon)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
All roads lead to Rome
All paths or methods lead to the same goal
all set
Completely prepared or ready to go
All Sir Garnet
During the 80s of the last century, when Sir Garnet Wolseley was winning his victories in Egypt, the Army phrase "All Sir Garnet" came into common usage, indicating that all was going well, everything was as it should be.
all sixes and nines
Completely confused or disorganized
all sizzle and no steak
Impressive appearance but lacking substance
All Souls' Day
November 2nd, so called because Catholics on that day seek by prayer and almsgiving to alleviate the sufferings of souls in purgatory. It was instituted in the monastery of Cluny in 993.
all standing
A nautical expression mean- ing to be completely equipped. To turn in all standing is to retire while still fully dressed.
all systems go
Everything is ready and in place to proceed
all talk and no cider
Someone who promises much but delivers little
all tarred with the same brush
All alike to blame; all sheep of the same flock. The allusion is to the custom of distinguishing the sheep of any given flock by a common mark with a brush dipped in tar.
all that
everything that exists or is relevant
All that glisters is not gold. or All that glitters is not gold
Not everything that appears valuable or attractive is genuinely so
all that jazz
and all the other related things
all the gear and no idea
Having all the necessary equipment or resources but lacking the knowledge or skill to use them effectively
all the marbles
to have complete control or possession
all the more
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
all the rage
Very popular or fashionable at a particular time
all the same
exactly equal or identical in nature
All the Talents
This is the name given to the administration formed by Lord Grenville in 1806 on the death 9f William Pitt. It was an attempt at a coalition of Tories, moderate Whigs and extreme Whigs, and included Charles James Fox as Foreign Secretary. It accomplished nothing spectacular, however, though one great measure will always stand to its credit — the abolition of the slave trade. The Government was dissolved in 1807.
all the tea in China
something extremely desirable or valuable
all the time
frequently or constantly
all the way
completely or to the fullest extent
all the way to Egery and back
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
All the wealth I had ran in my veins; I was a gentleman. (William Shakespeare)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
all the while
During the entire time something is happening
all the world loves a lover
People are more likely to support and be kind to those in love
all there
Completely sane or normal
All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God. (Sir Thomas Browne]]
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
all things are soon prepared in a well ordered house
A well-organized household can accomplish tasks efficiently
all things come to those who wait
Patience and waiting will ultimately lead to success or achievement.
all things considered
Taking everything into account
All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare (Spinoza)
Exceptional things are hard to achieve or find
all things must pass
Nothing lasts forever, everything is transient
all things to all people
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
All those men have their price. (Robert Walpole)
Everyone can be bribed or corrupted
all to pieces
Utterly, excessively; "he beat him ALL TO PIECES," i.e., excelled or surpassed him exceedingly. Also a term much in use among sporting men and expressing want of form, or decadence. A boat’s crew are said to "go ALL TO PIECES" when they through distress lose their regularity. A woman is vulgarly said to "fall to pieces," or "tumble to pieces," when she is confined.
all to smash
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
all told
including everything
all too well
very familiarly or knowingly
all very well
satisfactory or acceptable, but not necessarily good
all wet
Completely wrong or mistaken
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
all you need is love
Love is the most important thing in life
all your swans are geese
All your fine Eromises or expectations have proved illacious. "Hope told a flattering tale." The converse, AH your geese are swans, means all your children are paragons, and whatever you do is in your own eyes superlative work.
all-a-mort
Struck dumb, confounded. What, sweet one, all-a-mort? SHAKESPEARE.
All-Hallows Summer
Another name for St Martin's Summer (see SUMMER), because it sets in about All Hallows; also called St. Luke's Summer (St. Luke's Day is Oct. 18th), and the Indian summer (?.v.).
All-Hallows' Eve
Many old folklore cus- toms are connected with All-Hallows' Eve (October 31st), such as bobbing for apples, cracking nuts (mentioned in the Vicar o Wakefield), finding by various "tests" whether one's lover is true, etc. Buras's Hallowe'en gives a good picture of Scottish customs; and there is a tradition in Scotland that those born on All-Hallows' Eve have the gift of double sight, and commanding powers over spirits.
all-overish
Neither sick nor well; the premonitory symptoms of illness. Also the feeling which comes over a man at a critical moment, say just when he is about to "pop the question." Sometimes this is called, "feeling all over alike, and touching nowhere."
all-rounder
A shirt collar going all round the neck and meeting in front. Once fashionable, but little worn now.
all-weather friend
A friend who remains loyal and supportive in all situations
Alligator Pear
The name given to the fruit of the West Indian tree, Persea gratis- sima. It is a corruption either of the Carib aouacate, called by the Spanish discoverers avocado or avigato, or of the Aztec abuacath, which was transmitted through the Fr. avocat and Sp. aguacate. In any case the fruit has nothing to do with the reptile.
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