whole nine yards
All of it
The whole nine yards means everything available or the full extent of something: She went the whole nine yards with the wedding decorations.
The phrase implies completeness or maximum effort.
Its origin is disputed and probably unknowable—theories involving fabric bolts, concrete trucks, and ammunition belts all lack solid evidence.
The expression simply means all of it.
- go the distancePersist to completion
- all the wayTo the full extent
- full tiltAt maximum velocity
- lock stock and barrelEverything without exception
- kit and caboodleEntire collection together
the works · totality · comprehensive · thoroughness · exhaustive · hook line and sinker · pedal to the metal · leave no stone unturned · wholeheartedness · balls to the wall · push the envelope · pull out all the stops · all-inclusive · full monty · hard work · over the top · burn the candle at both ends · meticulousness
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- measurement idiomsinch by inch, give an inch, by a mile, go the extra mile, foot in the door
- ninesninth, cat lives, nonagon, novena, Ennead
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
whole nine yardsnothing
Not any thing
bare minimum · next to nothing · half measures · bare bones · half-assed
whole nine yardshalf-assed
Inadequately or carelessly done
phoning it in · going through the motions · cutting corners · mailing it in · token gesture
whole, nine, yard, yards, wholly, wholeness, wholesome, wholesomeness, nines