to leave no stone unturned
Preserved but no longer current.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to leave no stone unturned” mean?
To spare no trouble, time, expense, etc., in endeavouring to accomplish your aim. After the defeat of Mardonius at Plataea (477 B.C.), a report was current that the Persian general had left great treasures in his tent. Polycrates the Theban sought long but found them not.
Is “to leave no stone unturned” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.