go the whole nine yards
Meaning: The entire amount; (to go) all out.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The term comes from the World War II era where a fighter pilot's chain of ammunition was twenty-seven feet long (or nine yards). So when he fired all this on the target, he said "I gave it the whole nine yards" -- meaning, he gave it all he had.
More idioms — Daily Life
- wing it — To improvise; to do something without planning or preparation.
- wipe the slate clean — To set a situation right or erase something bad.
- yellow — Cowardly.
- yellow journalism — Journalism that is exaggerated or unnecessarily sensational.
- with flying colors — Triumphantly; victoriously.
- come from the wrong side of the tracks — The poor part of town.
More English idioms
- The last straw that broke the camel's back — The final small burden that causes a total collapse.
- To have a frog in your throat — To have difficulty speaking due to hoarseness.
- It's raining cats and dogs — It's raining extremely heavily.
- To have butterflies in your stomach — To feel nervous excitement.
- Bob's your uncle — And there you have it; simple as that.
- take the biscuit — to be the most outrageous or remarkable thing; to win or excel.
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