The world and his wife
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
A large and varied crowd, or apparently everyone of consequence. Informal hyperbole. The inherited masculine personification can feel conspicuously old-fashioned. Regional use: British English.
Origin
The personified masculine 'world' was given a wife to make the imagined attendance even more comprehensive. The expression is found in a London advertisement in 1730 and recurs through the later 18th century. It settled into British colloquial use for a conspicuously large turnout rather than literally every person.
Research Sources
Variants
- All the world and his wife
Usage Examples
- The world and his wife appeared at the harbour to inspect the new steamer.
- We arrived early, but all the world and his wife had found seats before us.
- By noon the world and his wife knew why the mayor had resigned.