or [the whole way]{adv. phr.} 1. From start to
finish during the whole distance or time. •/Jack climbed all the way to the
top of the tree./ •/Joe has played the whole way in the football game and
it’s almost over./ 2. In complete agreement; with complete willingness to
satisfy. — Often used in the phrase "go all the way with". •/I go all the
way with what George says about Bill./ •/Mary said she was willing to kiss
Bill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him./
•/The bank was willing to lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but it
wasn 't willing to go all the way with his plans to build another in the next
town./ Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.
[all the worse]
See: ALL THE 2.
[all thumbs]
{adj.}, {informal} Awkward, especially with your
hands; clumsy. •/Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs./
[all told]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Counting or including
everything. •/Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all
told./
[all to the good]
See: TO THE GOOD.
[all up]
{adj. phr.}, {informal} Near to certain death or defeat
without any more chance or hope. •/With their ammunition gone the patrol knew
that it was all up with them./
[all very well]
{adj.} All right; very good and correct; very true. — Usually followed by a "but" clause. •/It’s all very well for you to complain
but can you do any better?/ •/It’s all very well if Jane comes with us, but
how will she get back home?/ Compare: WELL AND GOOD.
[all walks of life]
{n. phr.} All socioeconomic groups; all professions
and lines of work. •/A good teacher has to be able to communicate with
students from all walks of life./ •/A clever politician doesn’t alienate
people from any walk of life./
[all wet]
{adj.}, {slang} Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken.
•/When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people
thought they were all wet./ •/If you think I like baseball, you’re all
wet./ Compare: OFF ONE’S ROCKER.
[all wool and a yard wide]
{adj. phr.} Of fine character; especially,
very generous and kind-hearted. •/He’s a wonderful brother — all wool and a
yard wide./
[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy]
Too much hard work without
time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. — A proverb. •/Bill’s
mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and
no play makes Jack a dull boy./
[all year round]
{adv. phr.} Always; all the time; throughout all
seasons of the year. •/In California the sun shines all year round./
[alone]
See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELL
ENOUGH ALONE.
[along]
See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUN
ALONG, STRING ALONG.
[along for the ride]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Being in a group for
the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. •/He wants no members in
his political party who are just along for the ride./
[along in years]
or [on in years]{adj. phr.} Elderly; growing old.
•/As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./ •/Our
dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./