everything

(Is) everything okay?

Inf. How are you?; How are things? John: Hi, Mary. Is everything okay? Mary: Sure. What about you? John: I'm okay. Waiter: Is everything okay? Bill: Yes, it's fine.

(Will there be) anything else? and Is that everything?; Is there anything else?; Will that be all?

Is there anything else you want?; Is there any other matter you wish to discuss?; Is there any other request? (These phrases are used by shopkeepers, clerks, and food service personnel to find out if the customer wants anything more.) Clerk: Here's the roast you ordered. Will there be anything else? Rachel: No, that's all. Waiter: Anything else? Bill: Just coffee. The clerk rang up the last item and asked, "Will that be all?" Waiter: Anything else? Jane: No, that's everything.

See also: anything

did everything he could 'cept eat us

Rur. acted very hostilely. When it came time to pass sentence on the criminal, the judge did everything he could 'cept eat him.

See also: could, did, eat

drop everything

Fig. to stop doing whatever you are doing. Drop everything and go outside. The house is on fire. Do you expect me to drop everything and come and pick you up at school?

See also: drop

everything an' all

Rur. everything. The thieves broke into Mary's house and took the television, the silver, her jewelry, everything an' all. I had to write a report about my trip to Memphis, what I did, what I ate, what I saw, and everything an' all.

everything but the kitchen sink

Cliché almost everything one can think of. When Sally went off to college, she took everything but the kitchen sink. John orders everything but the kitchen sink when he goes out to dinner, especially if someone else is paying for it.

See also: but, kitchen, sink

everything from soup to nuts and everything from A to Z

Cliché almost everything one can think of. For dinner we had everything from soup to nuts. In college I studied everything from soup to nuts.

See also: nuts, soup

everything humanly possible

everything that is in the range of human powers. The rescuers did everything humanly possible to find the lost campers. The doctor tried everything humanly possible to save the patient.

See also: possible

Everything's coming up roses.

Fig. Everything is really just excellent. Life is prosperous. Life is wonderful. Everything is coming up roses. Q: How are things going? A: Everything's coming up roses.

See also: coming, rose, up

Everything's going to be all right, and Everything will be all right.; Everything will be okay.; Everything will be just fine.; Everything will be great.

Do not worry, everything will be okay. "Don't worry, Fred," comforted Bill "Everything will be all right." Mary: I just don't know if I can go on! Bob: Now, now. Everything will be just fine.

See also: going, right

Good things come to him who waits. and Everything comes to him who waits.

Prov. If you are patient you will get what you want. Fred: Why is it taking you so long to get dinner ready? Can't you hurry up? Ellen: Good things come to him who waits. Jill: I wish our train would get here. Jane: Everything comes to her who waits.

See also: come, good, him, thing, wait, who

Hold everything!

Inf. Stop everything!; Everyone, stop! "Hold everything!" cried Mary. "There's a squirrel loose in the kitchen!" Bill: Hold everything! Let's try this part again. Bob: But we've already rehearsed it four times.

See also: hold

If that don't beat all! and That beats everything!; Don't that (just) beat all!

Rur. That surpasses everything!; That is amazing!; That takes the cake! (The grammar error, that don't is built into this catchphrase.) Tom: The mayor is kicking the baseball team out of the city. Bill: If that don't beat all! John: Now, here's a funny thing. South America used to be attached to Africa. Fred: That beats everything! John: Yeah.

See also: beat, if

place for everything, and everything in its place

Prov. Everything in order and put away where it belongs. (Used to describe a very orderly thing or place.) I like to put my books in alphabetical order by author. She has a place for everything, and everything in its place. Barbara's room is so tidy. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

See also: and, place

There is a remedy for everything except death.

Prov. Everything but death can be cured.; As long as you are alive, your problems can somehow be solved. Bill: I'll never recover from losing Nancy. Fred: Nonsense. There is a remedy for everything except death. Whenever Linda despaired, she sternly reminded herself that there is a remedy for everything except death.

See also: death, except, remedy

There is a time and a place for everything.

Prov. Different things are appropriate on different occasions. There is a time and a place for everything, but this formal dinner is not the time or the place to eat with your fingers.

See also: and, place, time

Things will work out (all right). and Everything will work out (all right).; Everything will work out for the best.; Things will work out for the best.

The situation will reach a satisfactory conclusion.; The problem(s) will be resolved. "Cheer up!" Mary said to a gloomy Fred. "Things will work out all right." Mary: Oh, I'm so miserable! Bill: Don't worry. Everything will work out for the best. "Now, now, don't cry. Things will work out," consoled Sally, hoping that what she was saying was really true.

See also: out, Thing, work

with everything (on it)

[of a sandwich] ordered with everything available on it, such as ketchup, mustard, onions, cheese, peppers, chili, lettuce, tomato, etc., as appropriate. Do you want it with everything? Give me a cheeseburger with everything on it.

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drop everything

if you drop everything, you suddenly stop what you are doing in order to do something else instead I can't just drop everything and go into town with you. I have to finish this letter.

See also: drop

everything but the kitchen sink  (humorous)

a lot of different things, many of which you do not need We were only going away for the weekend, but Jack insisted on taking everything but the kitchen sink.

See also: but, kitchen, sink

Everything in the garden is rosy.

something that you say which means that there are no problems in a situation (often negative) But not everything in the garden is rosy. Sales may look good but they're actually 10% down on last year.

See lead up the garden path

See also: garden, rosy

Everything's coming up roses.

something that you say when a situation is successful in every way Everything's coming up roses for George at the moment - he's been promoted at work and he's just got engaged.

See Everything in the garden is rosy, everything but the kitchen sink

See also: coming, rose, up

That beats everything!  (British, American & Australian informal) also That beats all! (American informal)

something that you say when something has surprised you, or you find something hard to believe I can't believe he expected you to drive all that way in the middle of the night. That beats everything!

See also: beat

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drop everything

to suddenly stop what you were doing You can't just barge into my office when I'm busy and expect me to drop everything.

See also: drop

everything but the kitchen sink

almost all that you can imagine of something Here's a website that simply has everything but the kitchen sink.

Etymology: based on the idea that if you brought many things to someone, a kitchen sink is one of the last things you would bring because it is difficult to move

See also: but, kitchen, sink

everything under the sun

everything that exists or that you can imagine We talked about everything under the sun.

Usage notes: often every something under the sun: She seems to have an opinion on every subject under the sun.

See also: sun