The be-all and end-all
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
The most important, decisive or comprehensive part of something, treated as if nothing else matters. Often appears in negative statements that reject one overriding criterion. Hyphenation varies. Regional use: Origin in English drama; now international English.
Origin
In Macbeth, written around 1606, Macbeth hopes Duncan's murder might be 'the be-all and the end-all' of the affair: both the whole deed and its final consequence. The paired coinages compress beginning, totality and ending into one expression. Modern use usually names a supreme goal or consideration and often warns that it is being valued too highly.
Research Sources
Variants
- Be-all and end-all
- The be-all and the end-all
Usage Examples
- Profit is important, but it is not the be-all and end-all of the service.
- For the young athlete, selection had become the be-all and end-all.
- A single test score should never be treated as the be-all and end-all of ability.