be-all and end-all

English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

be-all and end-all (plural be-alls and end-alls)

  1. (idiomatic) Something considered to be of the utmost importance; something essential or ultimate.
    He thought that cars were the be-all and end-all of life.
    Profit is the be-all and end-all of business.
    • a. 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, act 1, scene 7, lines 4–5:
      That but this blow / Might be the be-all and the end-all!
    • 2014 September 23, A teacher, “Choosing a primary school: a teacher's guide for parents”, in The Guardian‎[1]:
      The compulsory tests in reading, writing and maths at the end of years 2 and 6 are often mistakenly seen as the be-all and end-all of a child's chances in life, and the quality of their school.
    • 2025 April 23, Julia A. Siegel, MD, “12 Methods to Unclog Pores That Dermatologists Swear By”, in Byrdie‎[2]:
      Back in the day, pore strips were the be-all and end-all for removing blackheads and buildup around the nose. These days, there are gentler and more effective ways to unclog the pores around the nostrils, but some have found success with strips and experience no irritation. If you're looking to try some, consider these six Byrdie-approved pore strips.

Translations

See also

Anagrams

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.