Dictionary

give one's all en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. To make the utmost effort; to contribute, using all of one's abilities and resources.
   • "I'd go myself, if I was any use. As I ain't, I give my boys, and give 'em free." He spoke so cheerfully, looked so sincere, and seemed so glad to give his all, that I was ashamed of myself. 1868, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 4, in Little Women:
   • Near-synonym: give it one's best shot
   • [S]he was unique in not requiring rehearsals because she "gave her all the first time she tried a scene." 1990 January 22, Peter B. Flint, “Barbara Stanwyck, Actress, Dead at 82”, in New York Times, retrieved 17 Jun 2011:
   • After swearing to support God and the Constitution, to give his all in any "war" against Catholics, Jews, Negroes, aliens and Communists, he paid $7 for a robe, 10¢ monthly dues, bought himself a gun, became a member in good standing. 1936 June 1, “Crime: Black Legion”, in Time:
   • And it is well; her act being proportioned to the dignity of one who carries in her head and heart riches which outvalue any that any King could add, though he gave his all. 1896, Mark Twain, chapter 35, in Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc:
2. (euphemistic, idiomatic) To lose one's life while making the utmost effort with full commitment.
   • Police officers expressed shock at the news of their fellow officer's death. "He gave his all; he literally gave his all," said Officer Edward Looney. 2005 August 4, Kareem Fahim, “Sniper Kills New York Police Officer in Iraq”, in New York Times, retrieved 17 Jun 2011:
   • The Cemeterial Division . . . has taken up the huge task of establishing contact with the mothers or widows of the 30,000 American soldiers who gave their all and whose bodies rest in graves across the sea. 1929 April 10, “Plans for War Mothers Pilgrimage Started”, in Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express, retrieved 18 Jun 2011, page 26:

Forms

Relateds

ultimate sacrifice · pay the ultimate price · all out · all in · last full measure

Synonyms

cross the Great Divide · exit · go the way of all flesh · buy it · pop one's clogs · cash in one's chips · pay nature's debt · yield up the ghost · give up the ghost · slip away · be no more · go the way of the dinosaurs · be with the Lord · sleep with one's fathers · draw one's last breath · close one's eyes for the last time · go the way of the dodo bird · go to glory · empty the tank · go all out · code · meet one's maker · bite the biscuit · depart · push up daisies · hand in one's checks · go out · be called home · fall off the twig · snuff it · go for a burton · go over to the majority · decompose · cash in · be with Jesus · sink · darken · keel over · cross over · pass the river · pass on · disincarnate · auger in · pass · give one's all · meet one's end · pull out all the stops · take a dirt nap · go the way of the dodo · pay the debt of nature · cross the Styx · shuffle off this mortal coil · decease · drop off the hooks · check out · meet one's doom · flatline · assume room temperature · do one's utmost · dematerialize · peg out · liquidate · cark it · kick off · give 110% · perish · give it one's best shot · hop the twig · kick the bucket · join the choir invisible · forfare · croak · leave it all on the field · hand in one's dinner pail · knock off · go to one's reward · go west · be gathered to one's fathers · pass away · succumb · bite the big one · be like the the One · expire · pass in one's checks · pass over · turn up one's toes · buy the farm · pass in one's marble · bite the dust · lose the number of one's mess · pop off · conk out

Translations (13)

de alles geben (make the utmost effort) · mi whakapau kaha (make the utmost effort) · fr se donner à fond (make the utmost effort) · pl dawać z siebie wszystko (make the utmost effort) · pl dać z siebie wszystko (make the utmost effort) · fi antaa kaikkensa (make the utmost effort) · th ทุ่มเท (make the utmost effort) · es dar el do de pecho (make the utmost effort) · el τα δίνω όλα (make the utmost effort) · pt dar tudo de si (make the utmost effort) · es darle con todo (make the utmost effort) · unm wishëksi (make the utmost effort) · pt dar o seu melhor (make the utmost effort)