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The whole nine yards. " The whole nine yards " or " the full nine yards " is a colloquial American English phrase meaning "everything, the whole lot" or, when used as an adjective, "all the way". [1] Its first usage was the punch line of an 1855 Indiana comedic short story titled "The Judge's Big Shirt".
The phrase originated in the central states of the USA in the early 20th century. All of the numerous supposed explanations as to the origin of the phrase are incorrect. The origin of this expression is considered the holy grail of etymology. Thousands of hours of research has gone into unearthing the evidence that will prove which of the many ...
THE WHOLE NINE YARDS definition: 1. everything you can possibly want, have, or do in a particular situation : 2. everything you can…. Learn more.
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The whole nine yards meaning a fully rigged ship. ‒ Don T. Thompson March 31, 2023. It refers to the full capacity of a standard ready mix concrete truck being nine cubic yards, and so the whole nine yards is the full load, instead of just partial. ‒ E.A.A. September 22, 2022.
Among the idioms of modern American English, few are as puzzling to unpack as the expression "the whole nine yards," meaning 'the full extent of something.' Though it is of relatively recent vintage, etymologists have yet to discover a credible historical explanation for what the "nine yards" might refer to — there are a multitude of theories ...
The idiom "The whole nine yards" is a phrase used to indicate completeness or the full extent of something. It is often used to describe giving one's best effort or going all out in a particular situation. The origin of this idiom is uncertain, and several theories exist about its source. Example 1:
The whole nine yards. The whole nine yards. Meaning. The full entirety of something. Examples. The allies went full-on in the attack on Baghdad – bombs, missiles ...
