up to eleven
Past the limit
Up to eleven means pushed beyond normal limits, taken to an extreme degree.
The phrase comes from the 1984 film *This Is Spinal Tap*, where a guitarist explains that his amplifier's volume knob goes to eleven instead of the usual ten—one louder.
Now used for anything maximized past conventional bounds: The special effects were turned up to eleven.
Sometimes shortened to goes to eleven or cranked to eleven.
- mockumentarySatirical fake nonfiction film
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- excessSurplus beyond need
- cult classicObscure work with devoted fans
- maximumGreatest permitted quantity
parody · extreme · over the top · overstatement · peak · dramatization · intensity · overload · spinal tap · rock band · heavy metal · pop culture · rock music · embellishment · magnification · hyperbolic · surge · escalation
up to eleventoned down
Made less extreme
dialed back · subdued · muted · understated · low-key
up to elevenphoning it in
Performing without genuine commitment
going through the motions · coasting · holding back · half-assed · mailing it in