all

Universal Words determiner, pronoun, adverb determiner 1 (used with plural nouns. The noun may have the, this, that, my, her, his, etc. in front of it, or a number.) the whole number of: All horses are animals, but not all animals are horses. * Cars were coming from all directions (= every direction). * All the people you invited are coming. * All my plants have died. * All five men are hard workers. 2 (used with uncountable nouns. The noun may have the, this, that, my, her, his, etc. in front of it.) the whole amount of: All wood tends to shrink. * You've had all the fun and I've had all the hard work. * All this mail must be answered. * He has lost all his money. 3 used with singular nouns showing sth has been happening for a whole period of time: He's worked hard all year. * She was unemployed for all that time. 4 the greatest possible: In all honesty (= being as honest as I can), I can't agree. 5 consisting or appearing to consist of one thing only: The magazine was all advertisements. * She was all smiles (= smiling a lot). 6 any whatever: He denied all knowledge of the crime. IDIOMS and all that (jazz, rubbish, etc.) (informal) and other similar things: I'm bored by history-dates and battles and all that stuff. not all that good, well, etc. not particularly good, well, etc: He doesn't sing all that well. not as bad(ly), etc. as all that not as much as has been suggested: They're not as rich as all that. of all people, things, etc. (informal) used to express surprise because sb/sth seems the least likely person, example, etc: I didn't think you, of all people, would become a vegetarian. of all the... (informal) used to express anger: I've locked myself out. Of all the stupid things to do! moreatFORprep. pronoun 1 the whole number or amount: All of the food has gone. * They've eaten all of it. * They've eaten it all. * I invited some of my colleagues but not all. * Not all of them were invited. * All of them enjoyed the party. * They all enjoyed it. * His last movie was best of all. 2 (followed by a relative clause, often without that) the only thing; everything: All I want is peace and quiet. * It was all that I had. -< ALTOGETHER IDIOMS all in all when everything is considered: All in all it had been a great success. all in one having two or more uses, functions, etc: It's a corkscrew and bottle-opener all in one. all or nothing a situation which will end either in complete success or complete failure and all 1 also; included; in addition: She jumped into the river, clothes and all (= with her clothes on). 2 (spoken) as well; too: 'I'm freezing.' 'Yeah, me and all.' (not) at all in any way; to any degree: I didn't enjoy it at all. in all as a total SYNALTOGETHER: There were twelve of us in all for dinner. * That's ｣25.40 in all. not at all used as a polite reply to an expression of thanks: 'Thanks very much for your help.' 'Not at all, it was a pleasure.' your all everything you have: They gave their all (= fought and died) in the war. moreatABOVEprep., AFTERprep., ENDv., ENDn., FORprep., SIDEn. adverb 1 completely: She was dressed all in white. * He lives all alone. * The coffee went all over my skirt. 2 (informal) very: She was all excited. * Now don't get all upset about it. 3 ~ too... used to show that sth is more than you would like: I'm all too aware of the problems. * The end of the trip came all too soon. 4 (in sports and games) to each side: The score was four all. IDIOMS all along all the time; from the beginning: I realized it was in my pocket all along. all around -> ALLROUND all the better, harder, etc. so much better, harder, etc: We'll have to work all the harder with two people off sick. all but 1 almost: The party was all but over when we arrived. * It was all but impossible to read his writing. 2 everything or everyone except sth/sb: All but one of the plates were damaged. all in 1 physically tired SYNEXHAUSTED: At the end of the race he felt all in. 2 (BrE) including everything: The holiday cost ｣250 all in. seealsoALL-IN all of sth (often ironic) used to emphasize an amount, a size, etc. usually when it is very small: It must be all of 100 metres to the car! all over 1 everywhere: We looked all over for the ring. 2 what you would expect of the person mentioned: That sounds like my sister all over. all round (BrE) (AmE all around) 1 in every way; in all respects: a good performance all round 2 for each person: She bought drinks all round. all there (informal) having a healthy mind; thinking clearly: He behaves very oddly at times-I don't think he's quite all there. be all about sb/sth: This book is all about Greece. * (informal) Now then, what's this all about (= what is the problem)? * It's all about money these days. be all for sth / for doing sth to believe strongly that sth should be done: They're all for saving money where they can. be all over sb (informal) to show a lot of affection for or enthusiasm about sb: He was all over her at the party. be all up (with sb) (old-fashioned, informal) to be the end for sb: It looks as though it's all up with us now (= we are ruined, have no further chances, etc.).