IdiomThe AbsurdEnglish

to the hilt

Meaning: To be fully committed to something; to do something completely.

Example: “She backed her sister to the hilt in the dispute.”

Origin: The hilt is a sword or dagger's handle — the one part of the weapon that remains visible and ungripped by the blade itself once the weapon has been driven all the way into its target. "Up to the hilts," meaning completely or entirely, is documented from the 1670s, with the more general figurative sense of "to the hilt" following by 1687. The image is vividly precise: a blade thrust in only to the hilt has gone in as far as it physically can, with nothing further to give — a natural, unmistakable image for absolute maximum effort, commitment, or extent in any context, weapons included or not.

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Hinna To manage something inside the time available — not speed, but fitting the act in before…
  • Vabba To stay home from work on paid leave to look after a sick child.
  • Blunda To close your eyes on purpose — and, by extension, to knowingly refuse to see something.

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →