to the hilt

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

(up) to the hilt

1. if you do something to the hilt, you do it in the strongest and most complete way that you can All through the trial, he has backed his wife up to the hilt. They took the new aircraft and tested it to the hilt.

2. if you borrow to the hilt, you borrow as much money as you can, often so much that it is difficult to pay it back We can't raise any more money - we're mortgaged up to the hilt as it is. With the government borrowing up to the hilt we can expect tax rises.

to the hilt

as much as possible We're already being taxed to the hilt.

Etymology: based on the idea of pushing a sword into something to the hilt (as far as its handle)

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

References in classic literature	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
He kept rushing the matador, who always slipped smartly and gracefully aside in time, waiting for a sure chance; and at last it came; the bull made a deadly plunge for him - was avoided neatly, and as he sped by, the long sword glided silently into him, between left shoulder and spine - in and in, to the hilt. A Horse's Tale by Twain, Mark View in context If you'll stop to lunch I'll prove you this time travelling up to the hilt, specimen and all. The Time Machine by Wells, H.G. View in context But the boy had learned in that brief second a use for his sharp and shining toy, so that, as the tearing, striking beast dragged him to earth he plunged the blade repeatedly and to the hilt into its breast. Tarzan of the Apes by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context			to heart's content to hell and gone to hell with to liking to make a long story short to my mind to no avail to put it another way to put it mildly to put too fine a point on it to say nothing of to say the least to shout about to some extent to speak of to that effect to the best of ability to the bitter end to the bone to the contrary to the core to the ends of the earth to the fore to the four winds to the gunwales to the hilt to the last to the letter to the manner born to the max to the nth degree to the point to the tune of To the victors belong the spoils to top it all to way of thinking to whom it may concern to wit toad toady toady to toast today Today here, tomorrow the world toddle toddle along toddle away toe toe the line toe the mark toffee			To the core To the Darker Grounds To the Dome To the End To the End To the Ends of the Earth To the Extreme To the Faithful Departed to the fore to the fore to the fore to the fore to the fore to the four winds to the four winds to the four winds to the four winds to the four winds to the full to the gills to the gills to the gills to the gills to the good to the good to the good to the gunnels to the gunnels to the gunwales to the highest degree to the hilt To the last To the last To the left To the left to the letter to the letter to the letter to the letter to the letter To the life to the limit To The Limit - To The Top to the lowest degree to the manner born to the manner born to the manner born to the max to the max To the Moderator To the Moon To the Moon Alice to the nines to the nines to the nth degree to the point to the point to the point to the point to the point to the point

Idioms and phrases

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.