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Region: US | Usage example: They served the whole nine yards at the celebration.

The whole nine yards

Meaning

Everything possible or available.

Usage

Used when describing total effort.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Multiple theories, possibly from ammunition belts in WWII.

Became American slang in the mid-20th century.

Related Idioms

The whole ball of wax

Everything included, the entire package.

On cloud nine

Extremely happy.

The whole shebang

The entire thing, including all its parts.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.