pull out all the stops

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb

To hold back or reserve nothing.

Pronunciation

/ˈpʊl‿aʊt‿ɔːl ðə ˈstɒps/ /ˈpʊl‿aʊt‿ɔl ðə ˈstɑps/ /ˈpʊl‿aʊt‿ɑl ðə ˈstɑps/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-pull out all the stops.wav En-au-pull out all the stops.ogg

Word forms

pull out all the stops pulls out all the stops pulling out all the stops pulled out all the stops pull out all stops

Etymology

An allusion to organ stops, which are pulled out to turn on each set of sounds in a pipe organ. When all stops are pulled out, the organ will play all variations of its sounds at once, therefore being as loud as possible.

Synonyms

empty the tank give one's all go all out go balls to the wall go the whole nine yards go up to eleven open the floodgates

Related words

no holds barred take off one's gloves gloves are off

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