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the whole nine yards

everything possible

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

everything possible; the maximum extent or amount; all that can be done or achieved

Examples

• When she planned the party, she went the whole nine yards with decorations, food, and entertainment.

How to use the whole nine yards

This informal idiom means the maximum extent or all possible aspects of something, often used when someone goes to extreme lengths or provides complete information. It appears frequently in American English and casual conversation, conveying enthusiasm or emphasis about completeness. While the exact origin is debated, it is a well-established colloquialism used in everyday speech and writing.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• go the whole nine yards
• give someone the whole nine yards
• the whole nine yards of something
• do the whole nine yards

Synonyms

the whole kit and caboodle · the whole shebang · everything and the kitchen sink · the works · all of it

A common mistake

Learners sometimes say 'the whole nine yards' as a standalone phrase without a verb like 'go' or 'give,' though the phrase can occasionally work this way contextually, pairing it with an action verb creates the most natural and clear usage.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

see eye to eye, sit tight, steal someone's thunder, throw caution to the wind, turn a blind eye, water under the bridge

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained