all the days of one’s life—for as long as one will live, or has lived: They had known only oppression and bitter poverty all the days of their lives . all dressed up • dressed up all dressed up—dressed formally; dressed in one’s best clothes: She was glad that she was all dressed up and had done her hair that morning. dressed up —1. = all dressed up: We know little about Mary’s appearance (the only description we have is when she is dressed up for her daughter’s wedding). 2. wearing fancy clothing; disguised: There was a carnival parade in the city. Annabel was dressed up as a clown and Andy as Zorro. all eyes • all my eye all eyes—(predic., coll.) watching eagerly and attentively: She was all eyes as I unwrapped the package. all my eye —(UK sl.) utter nonsense (also: all my eye and Betty Martin): I told him about a secret process, but he knew it was all my eye . all fur coat and no knickers • all hat and no cattle all fur coat and no knickers —(UK derog.) said of a person or thing having an impressive appearance with no real substance beneath: Wish I had paid more attention to the bad reviews before I booked. This hotel is all fur coat and no knickers . all hat and no cattle—(U.S. derog.) said of smb. who tends to talk boastfully without acting on one’s words (also: big hat and no cattle): Republican leadership promised to support the mission. Unfortunately, however, they’ve been all hat and no cattle all hands and the cook • all the world and his wife all hands and the cook —1. (Nautical) everybody on the ship: Martin threw on the engine, while all hands and the cook sprang to take in sail. 2. everyone from a particular group of people who can possibly contribute: Soon he was rearing his family, and all hands and the cook were busy as bees in caring for the home. Cf.: all-hands meeting—a mandatory meeting for all employees called by the management: Bob called an all- hands meeting this afternoon. It’s never a good sign… all the world and his wife —(also: every man and his dog ) lots of people; everyone of importance: All the world and his wife were there, so, of course, Dame Margery went also. all in • all out all in—(predic., coll.) 1. completely exhausted: I was glad that the laboratory was only a few blocks away, for I was all in by the time I got there. 2. completely or enthusiastically involved in smth.: That was a cruel thing to do and I want to know who was all in on it! Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound all-in—(attrib.) inclusive of everything: If you need surgery, go for a fixed price package—an all-in price, irre- spective of how long you stay in the hospital. all out—(coll.) 1. using all one’s strength or resources: He made up his mind to go “all out ” for his uncle’s slum-conver- sion scheme. 2. entirely; completely: “Were you drunk?” “Not all out , I could keep my feet on the floor.” 3. at top speed: The track was ultra-fast all night, with cars running all out the entire evening. all in all • in all all in all—1. taking everything into consideration: All in all , they do their best to portray something original. 2. (of a person or thing) of supreme importance to smb.: This adven- turer made love to the girl that was all in all to me. in all—in total number: I stayed for three days in all , and throughout those three days I was sitting in their wonderful library. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase at all— under any circumstances: If that is so, why write at all ? all in one piece • all of a piece all in one piece—(also: in one piece) without injury; relatively unharmed: I was covered in plaster and my eyes were full of dust, but I was all in one piece and thankful to be alive. all of a piece—1. of the same kind or quality: It’s all of a piece here. The men effeminate, the women unsexed. 2. (with) in harmony or consistent with smth.: His rejection of health- care reform is all of a piece with his disregard for the under- privileged. all kinds of something • all sorts of something all kinds of something —1. many different kinds of smth.: For many years, Tutt Library has accepted donations of all kinds of books from community supporters. 2. (coll.) plenty of smth.; a large amount of smth.: The reality is that the gov- ernment has all kinds of money. They have more money than they know what to do with. all sorts of something— = all kinds of something 1: Classrooms should be stocked full of all sorts of books and school libraries should be as desirable a destination as the local bookstore. all mouth and no trousers • all mouth and trousers all mouth and no trousers —(UK derog.) said of smb. who talks or boasts a lot but doesn’t take any action (also: all talk and no trousers): How much longer will it take to realize that the leader is all mouth and no trousers ? all mouth and trousers — = all mouth and no trousers: Jack is all mouth and trousers , he never does anything he says he will. all-overs • overalls all-overs—(coll.) a feeling of great unease or extreme nerv- ousness: We’re out of sorts for want of a smoke. We’ve got the all-overs , haven’t us, deary? overalls—a one-piece garment worn to protect a worker’s clothes; loose-fitting work pants with shoulder straps: A man dressed in overalls came out. I caught a glimpse of machin- ery… all-red line • thin red line all-red line—(UK hist., also: all-red route) a telegraph line lying throughout in British territory: Green tells of Fleming’s advocacy of a Pacific Cable and the All-Red Line . thin red line—(UK) 1. (dated) the British army (used with the implication of its supposed invincibility): Napoleon Bona- parte soon found that in the “thin red line ” he had more than met his match. 2. the heroic resistance of few against many: England’s thin red line of intellectual royalists is being overrun by “progressive” reformers who sabotage old-fashioned aca- demic virtues. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase thin line—a significantly blurred borderline between two things: There is often only a thin line between a successful launch and devastating destruction. Rockets are an unforgiv- ing technology. See also: ragged blue line / thin blue line. all-red route • red route all-red route—(UK hist., also: all-red line) a telegraph line lying throughout in British territory: Because all of these lo- cations were part of the British Empire, the cable was also known as the “All Red Route ” (as red was the color associated with Britain). all dressed up – 14 –