The whole nine yards is an idiom that means “the fullest possible extent” of something. Perhaps no other English idiom is shrouded in more mystery as to its origins. So while we know what the idiom means figuratively, we don’t know what its literal meaning was.
The whole nine yards examples
Alison was never one for doing things by halves, and, as usual, she had gone the whole nine yards with this dinner party.The sergeant major didn’t hold back with the new recruits and gave them the whole nine yards with his appraisal of their marching skills.
It was an all-you-can-eat menu, and Gareth showed his commitment by going the whole nine yards.
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How to use the whole nine yards
The whole nine yards is an informal idiom, so it would not be wise to use it in formal academic writing. But when you want to informally convey that someone has done something to the absolute maximum of what is possible, then it is a useful phrase to know.
Although the whole nine yards has predominantly been a phrase best known in American English, it has become better known in British English in recent years (perhaps since the 2020 movie of the same name).
The whole nine yards examples
When Sahil committed to something, he went the whole nine yardsand left nothing to chance.The wedding planner had gone the whole nine yards with the venue—it was like the set of a Hollywood movie.
When Jane and Sylvester moved into their home, they went the whole nine yards with the remodeling: new bathrooms, new kitchen, and even a hot tub on the (new) terrace.
The origin of the whole nine yards
Most reputable authorities will agree on one thing about the origin of the whole nine yards—and that is that we don’t know where it comes from. It isn’t recorded before the 20th century, and the explanations offered for its original meaning range from American warplanes in WWII to cement trucks, graves, and Scottish kilts. It even seems likely that it used to be six yards rather than nine!
So it seems that the origin will remain shrouded in mystery. But that won’t change the idiomatic meaning of doing something to the very extent of possibility.
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