Idioms are special figurative expressions where the words together create a meaning completely different from what they say individually. People use them in everyday speech to make descriptions of total coverage, completeness, and all possible things much more colorful and vivid. In this article, you will learn fifty unique idioms related to covering everything.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean encompassing all, complete inclusion, and the whole picture. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Everything
1. All and sundry
Definition: Every single person without exception; everyone involved.
Used in a Sentence: The proud teacher invited all and sundry to view the classroom art gallery. / News of the school championship spread quickly to all and sundry in town.
Similar Expressions: Everyone / Each and every one
2. All bases covered
Definition: Having prepared for every possible situation or problem that could happen.
Used in a Sentence: With extra pencils, snacks, and maps, we made sure we had all bases covered for our hike. / The team had all bases covered before presenting their science project.
Similar Expressions: Fully prepared / Every detail handled
3. All ears
Definition: Giving your complete, undivided attention to listening to everything being said.
Used in a Sentence: When the coach started explaining the new tournament strategy, the players were all ears. / Tell me your exciting story because I am all ears.
Similar Expressions: Listening intently / Attentive completely
4. All heart
Definition: A person who shows endless kindness, empathy, and care for everyone and everything.
Used in a Sentence: Our school nurse is all heart when it comes to helping students feel better. / That gentle rescue puppy is all heart and loves everyone he meets.
Similar Expressions: Extremely kind / Compassionate soul
5. All in a day’s work
Definition: Normal duties that cover all the routine tasks you handle regularly.
Used in a Sentence: Cleaning up the art supplies after class was just all in a day’s work. / Helping classmates solve math problems is all in a day’s work for our tutor.
Similar Expressions: Routine tasks / Normal duties
6. All over the map
Definition: Covering every possible direction, topic, or place without a clear focus.
Used in a Sentence: His presentation was all over the map, jumping from dinosaurs to outer space. / When we tried to plan our trip, our ideas were all over the map.
Similar Expressions: Disorganized / Everywhere at once
7. Apples and oranges
Definition: Two things that are completely different in every single way.
Used in a Sentence: Comparing a bicycle to a rocket ship is like comparing apples and oranges. / Trying to match those two hobbies is impossible because they are apples and oranges.
Similar Expressions: Totally different / Incomparable items
8. At every turn
Definition: Happening continuously everywhere you look or go.
Used in a Sentence: We found beautiful wildflowers at every turn along the forest trail. / Friendly smiling faces greeted us at every turn during the school festival.
Similar Expressions: Everywhere / Constantly recurring
9. Ball of wax
Definition: The entire situation or everything included in a matter.
Used in a Sentence: We cleaned the desk, organized the books, and threw away the whole ball of wax. / If you want to join the club, you must accept the whole ball of wax, rules and all.
Similar Expressions: The whole package / Everything included
10. Beats me
Definition: An expression meaning you know nothing at all about a given topic.
Used in a Sentence: Where did I leave my favorite blue pen? Beats me! / How the magician pulled a rabbit from that small hat beats me completely.
Similar Expressions: I have no idea / Completely unknown
11. Bread and butter
Definition: The essential foundation that covers your main support or livelihood.
Used in a Sentence: Playing classical piano pieces is his bread and butter when it comes to music. / Drawing comic book illustrations is her bread and butter.
Similar Expressions: Main support / Essential foundation
12. Bring home the bacon
Definition: To earn everything needed to support a family or achieve success.
Used in a Sentence: My parents work hard every day to bring home the bacon for our family. / Our team worked hard all season to bring home the bacon in the finals.
Similar Expressions: Earn a living / Achieve success
13. By and large
Definition: Generally speaking, taking everything into consideration.
Used in a Sentence: By and large, our class science projects turned out wonderfully this year. / The weather during our camping trip was, by and large, very sunny and warm.
Similar Expressions: Generally / Overall
14. Cast a wide net
Definition: To include everything and everyone possible in a search or plan.
Used in a Sentence: When looking for club members, we decided to cast a wide net across all grades. / The research team cast a wide net to find historical information.
Similar Expressions: Include broadly / Search everywhere
15. Catch-all
Definition: A single category or item designed to hold or cover everything.
Used in a Sentence: This large plastic bin serves as a catch-all for all our outdoor sports gear. / The teacher created a catch-all folder for loose assignment papers.
Similar Expressions: General container / Comprehensive category
16. Clockwork
Definition: Happening with perfect regularity, covering every scheduled moment.
Used in a Sentence: Our school bus arrived outside the front doors like clockwork every morning. / The automated sprinklers watered the garden like clockwork at six.
Similar Expressions: Perfectly regular / Like machinery
17. Come rain or shine
Definition: Occurring no matter what happens, covering every possible weather condition.
Used in a Sentence: Our outdoor soccer practice will happen on Saturday, come rain or shine. / We promised to finish our treehouse build this weekend, come rain or shine.
Similar Expressions: No matter what / Under any condition
18. Cook up a storm
Definition: To prepare an enormous feast covering every type of food imaginable.
Used in a Sentence: Grandma and Grandpa cooked up a storm for our family Thanksgiving dinner. / The culinary students cooked up a storm in the kitchen today.
Similar Expressions: Prepare a feast / Cook extensively
19. Cover all the angles
Definition: To look at a problem from every possible direction and perspective.
Used in a Sentence: Detective stories require you to cover all the angles to solve the mystery. / Before launching our recycling drive, we made sure to cover all the angles.
Similar Expressions: Examine thoroughly / Consider everything
20. Cut and dried
Definition: A plan or situation that is completely settled and final in every way.
Used in a Sentence: The rules for the spelling bee competition are cut and dried. / Our vacation schedule is completely cut and dried with no changes allowed.
Similar Expressions: Fully settled / Definite
21. Day in, day out
Definition: Happening continuously every single day without fail.
Used in a Sentence: The loyal dog waited by the front door day in, day out for his owner. / Practicing piano scales day in, day out helps you improve quickly.
Similar Expressions: Constantly / Every single day
22. Down to the wire
Definition: A situation where everything remains uncertain until the very last second.
Used in a Sentence: The school election results went right down to the wire on Friday afternoon. / Finishing our history timeline went down to the final minute.
Similar Expressions: Right to the end / Down to the last moment
23. Drop in the ocean
Definition: A tiny amount compared to everything else that exists.
Used in a Sentence: Saving ten minutes of practice felt like a drop in the ocean of what we needed. / Losing one crayon is just a drop in the ocean of our art supplies.
Similar Expressions: Tiny fraction / Insignificant amount
24. Every nook and cranny
Definition: Every single hidden or small space everywhere in a place.
Used in a Sentence: We searched every nook and cranny of the attic for the missing photo album. / Cleaning the classroom means sweeping every nook and cranny.
Similar Expressions: Everywhere / All hidden places
25. Everything under the sun
Definition: Every possible thing that exists or can be discussed in the world.
Used in a Sentence: We talked about everything under the sun during our long bus ride to camp. / The camp store sells everything under the sun for outdoor activities.
Similar Expressions: All possible things / Everything imaginable
26. Fair-weather friend
Definition: Someone who is supportive only when things are easy, abandoning you otherwise.
Used in a Sentence: He turned out to be a fair-weather friend when my bicycle broke down. / You can tell who your true friends are versus who is just a fair-weather friend.
Similar Expressions: Unreliable companion / Untrue friend
27. Fish or cut bait
Definition: A phrase meaning you must commit to doing everything or stop trying.
Used in a Sentence: You have stared at the puzzle long enough; it is time to fish or cut bait. / We need to make a final decision on the project plan, so fish or cut bait.
Similar Expressions: Make a choice / Commit fully
28. From top to bottom
Definition: Covering every single part of an object or place completely.
Used in a Sentence: We cleaned our bedroom from top to bottom before our cousins visited. / The painter inspected the bicycle frame from top to bottom for rust.
Similar Expressions: Completely / Entirely
29. Full circle
Definition: Returning to the exact starting point after experiencing everything in between.
Used in a Sentence: After studying many different sciences, my interests came full circle back to astronomy. / Our community garden project has come full circle this spring.
Similar Expressions: Return to start / Complete a cycle
30. Get the whole picture
Definition: To understand every detail and aspect of a complex situation.
Used in a Sentence: Interviewing all the witnesses helped us get the whole picture of the playground accident. / Read all the chapters to get the whole picture of the story.
Similar Expressions: Understand completely / See everything
31. Give and take
Definition: A fair compromise covering balanced concessions from everyone involved.
Used in a Sentence: Sharing the computer required some give and take between my brother and me. / Successful group projects depend on friendly give and take.
Similar Expressions: Mutual compromise / Fair sharing
32. Hand over fist
Definition: Accumulating or gaining everything in large, rapid amounts.
Used in a Sentence: Our school fundraiser raised money hand over fist during the bake sale. / The talented card player won points hand over fist.
Similar Expressions: Rapidly / In large amounts
33. Hook, line, and sinker
Definition: Believing or accepting an entire story or trick without questioning anything.
Used in a Sentence: He believed my joke about flying turtles hook, line, and sinker. / Don’t swallow every internet rumor hook, line, and sinker.
Similar Expressions: Completely / Totally gullible
34. In one fell swoop
Definition: Accomplishing everything at once in a single, sudden action.
Used in a Sentence: Cleaning my entire bedroom in one fell swoop took me two hours. / The wind blew all the autumn leaves off the tree in one fell swoop.
Similar Expressions: All at once / In a single stroke
35. Lock, stock, and barrel
Definition: Including every single component or part of something completely.
Used in a Sentence: He sold his old bicycle, lock, stock, and barrel, including the basket and bell. / We packed up our camping gear, lock, stock, and barrel, into the van.
Similar Expressions: Completely / The whole lot
36. Make a clean sweep
Definition: To win every single game, prize, or item in a competition.
Used in a Sentence: Our school track team made a clean sweep of all the running medals. / Winning every division meant our club made a clean sweep at the fair.
Similar Expressions: Win everything / Total victory
37. Meet all requirements
Definition: To satisfy every single rule, standard, or condition necessary.
Used in a Sentence: Your science model must meet all requirements before earning an A grade. / The new bicycle helmet design met all safety requirements.
Similar Expressions: Satisfy conditions / Pass all tests
38. Off the beaten track
Definition: A remote place completely away from everywhere people usually go.
Used in a Sentence: We found a quiet, hidden cabin far off the beaten track in the woods. / Their favorite hiking trail is located way off the beaten track.
Similar Expressions: Isolated / Remote location
39. On the whole
Definition: Taking everything into general consideration.
Used in a Sentence: On the whole, our class field trip to the museum was a huge success. / The weather was chilly, but on the whole, our picnic was fun.
Similar Expressions: Generally speaking / Overall
40. Part and parcel
Definition: An essential and unavoidable part of everything you do.
Used in a Sentence: Doing daily chores is part and parcel of growing up responsibly. / Making mistakes while learning a new instrument is part and parcel of the process.
Similar Expressions: Essential part / Unavoidable element
41. Put it all together
Definition: To combine every individual piece of information to understand a total concept.
Used in a Sentence: Once we put all the puzzle clues together, the mystery was solved. / Putting all the math formulas together helped me ace the test.
Similar Expressions: Combine everything / Integrate facts
42. Rub of the green
DDefinition: Good luck or bad luck that affects everything that happens to you.
Used in a Sentence: Missing the bus was just the rub of the green on a rainy Monday morning. / Winning the raffle ticket was a pleasant rub of the green.
Similar Expressions: Twist of fate / Luck of the draw
43. Run the gamut
Definition: To cover every possible emotion, experience, or item in a full range.
Used in a Sentence: Reading that amazing adventure book made me run the gamut of emotions. / The art store supplies ran the gamut from chalk to oil paints.
Similar Expressions: Cover the full range / Experience everything
44. Safe and sound
Definition: Protected from everything dangerous and arriving safely.
Used in a Sentence: After the long thunderstorm, our little rescue kittens were safe and sound. / We returned from our hiking trip safe and sound before dark.
Similar Expressions: Safe and secure / Out of danger
45. Sink or swim
Definition: Having to succeed or fail entirely through your own efforts in everything you do.
Used in a Sentence: Learning how to ride a bicycle without training wheels felt like a sink or swim moment. / When the teacher handed out independent projects, it was sink or swim.
Similar Expressions: Succeed or fail / On your own
46. Sweep under the rug
Definition: To hide an embarrassing problem instead of cleaning or fixing it properly.
Used in a Sentence: Don’t just sweep your messy homework papers under the rug in your desk. / Ignoring the broken fence and sweeping it under the rug won’t fix it.
Similar Expressions: Hide a problem / Ignore issues
47. The whole nine yards
Definition: Everything possible; the full extent of a project or task.
Used in a Sentence: When we decorated the clubhouse, we went the whole nine yards with lights and banners. / She explained the entire space science project, the whole nine yards.
Similar Expressions: Everything / The complete amount
48. Thick and thin
Definition: Through every possible good and bad situation that occurs in life.
Used in a Sentence: My best friend and I have stuck together through thick and thin for years. / True family supports one another through thick and thin.
Similar Expressions: Through all challenges / Always and everywhere
49. Up, up, and away
Definition: Rising high above everything else into the sky.
Used in a Sentence: The colorful hot air balloon floated up, up, and away into the clouds. / We watched our giant paper kite fly up, up, and away.
Similar Expressions: Rising high / Soaring up
50. Whole kit and caboodle
Definition: Every single thing included in a collection or group.
Used in a Sentence: He brought his entire comic book collection, the whole kit and caboodle, to school. / We packed up our camping gear, the whole kit and caboodle, into bags.
Similar Expressions: Everything / The complete set
Exercise to Practice
- The proud teacher invited all and sundry to view the classroom art gallery.
- His presentation was focused on one simple topic and was not all over the map.
- We searched every nook and cranny of the attic for the missing photo album.
- We talked about everything under the sun during our long bus ride to camp.
- Our school bus arrived outside the front doors irregularly and never like clockwork.
- Cleaning my entire bedroom in one fell swoop took me two hours.
- We found a quiet, hidden cabin far off the beaten track in the woods.
- My best friend and I have stuck together through thick and thin for years.
- Comparing a bicycle to a rocket ship is like comparing apples and oranges.
- The weather was terrible, and on the whole, our picnic was a complete disaster.
- Making mistakes while learning a new instrument is part and parcel of the process.
- Our school track team made a clean sweep of all the running medals.
- He brought his entire comic book collection, leaving half of it at home, for the whole kit and caboodle.
- Winning the raffle ticket was a pleasant rub of the green.
- Reading that amazing adventure book made me run the gamut of emotions.
Answer Key
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
Conclusion
Learning these idioms helps you describe completeness, total coverage, and everything imaginable using fun and colorful language. Try using a few of these expressions when writing stories or talking about large collections and complete projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common idioms for everything?
Common idioms for everything include phrases like the whole nine yards, every nook and cranny, and all and sundry. These expressions help describe completeness, total inclusion, and all possible things in daily life.
Why do we use idioms to describe everything?
Idioms give us vivid, memorable ways to express total coverage and completeness that standard words sometimes cannot capture. They make stories and descriptions of comprehensive collections much more fun to read.
How can I practice using these idioms?
You can practice by using these phrases when writing stories about characters cleaning up massive messes or packing for big adventures. Matching them to everyday situations involving complete groups is also very helpful.
Are idioms for everything always literal?
Most idioms about everything use figurative exaggeration, like everything under the sun, to emphasize a huge amount or complete coverage. Context helps you understand the specific meaning.
Can idioms help me understand English writing better?
Yes, recognizing these expressions helps you understand complete descriptions, broad settings, and sweeping actions in books and movies much more clearly.
