phrase🎓 English idiom

the whole nine yards

everything, all the way

What it means

Everything that is possible or available; the full extent of something, with nothing left out. People use it to describe going all the way or including every detail or option.

Examples

  • For the wedding they wanted the whole nine yards — band, flowers, and fireworks.
  • He renovated the kitchen with new appliances, marble counters, the whole nine yards.
  • If we're throwing a party, let's do the whole nine yards.
  • She trained for the marathon by going the whole nine yards every weekend.

Where it comes from

An American expression first recorded in the mid-20th century; its literal source is genuinely disputed, with theories ranging from fabric length to ammunition belts, and none has been confirmed.

Related idioms

#the whole shebang#the whole kit and caboodle#across the board#leave no stone unturned

🎓 Think you know your idioms?

Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.