[all the better] See: ALL THE(2).

[all the ---er]{substandard} The ---est; as … as. — Used with acomparative adjective or adverb and subordinate clause in place of asuperlative adjective or adverb. •/That was all the bigger he grew./ •/Isthat all the faster you can go?/

[all there] or [all here] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Understandingwell; thinking clearly; not crazy. — Usually used in negative sentences,•/Joe acted queerly and talked wildly, so we thought he was not all there./

[all the same(1)] or [all one] {n. phr.} Something that makes nodifference; a choice that you don’t care about. •/If it’s all the same toyou, I would like to be waited on first./ •/You can get there by car or bybus — it’s all one./

[all the same(2)] or [just the same] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Asif the opposite were so; nevertheless; anyway; anyhow; still. •/Everyoneopposed it, but Sally and Bob got married all the same./ •/Mary is deaf,but she takes tap dancing lessons just the same./ Compare: AT THAT 3, INSPITE OF.

[all the thing] or [all the rage], [the in thing] {n. phr.} Thefashionable or popular thing to do, the fashionable or most popular artist orform of art at a given time. •/After "The Graduate" Dustin Hoffman was allthe rage in the movies./ •/It was all the thing in the late sixties tosmoke pot and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam./

[all the time]{adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while] During the wholeperiod; through the whole time. •/Mary went to college in her home town andlived at home all the while./ •/Most of us were surprised to hear that Maryand Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue said she knew it all the time./ 2.Without stopping; continuously •/Most traffic lights work all the time./ 3.Very often; many times. •/Ruth talks about her trip to Europe all the time,and her friends are tired of it./

[all the way] or [the whole way] {adv. phr.} 1. From start tofinish during the whole distance or time. •/Jack climbed all the way to thetop of the tree./ •/Joe has played the whole way in the football game andit’s almost over./ 2. In complete agreement; with complete willingness tosatisfy. — Often used in the phrase "go all the way with". •/I go all theway with what George says about Bill./ •/Mary said she was willing to kissBill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him./•/The bank was willing to lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but itwasn 't willing to go all the way with his plans to build another in the nexttown./ Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.

[all the worse] See: ALL THE 2.

[all thumbs]{adj.}, {informal} Awkward, especially with yourhands; clumsy. •/Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs./

[all told]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Counting or includingeverything. •/Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 alltold./

[all to the good] See: TO THE GOOD.

[all up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Near to certain death or defeatwithout any more chance or hope. •/With their ammunition gone the patrol knewthat it was all up with them./

[all very well]{adj.} All right; very good and correct; very true. — Usually followed by a "but" clause. •/It’s all very well for you to complainbut can you do any better?/ •/It’s all very well if Jane comes with us, buthow will she get back home?/ Compare: WELL AND GOOD.

[all walks of life]{n. phr.} All socioeconomic groups; all professionsand lines of work. •/A good teacher has to be able to communicate withstudents from all walks of life./ •/A clever politician doesn’t alienatepeople from any walk of life./

[all wet]{adj.}, {slang} Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken.•/When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, peoplethought they were all wet./ •/If you think I like baseball, you’re allwet./ Compare: OFF ONE’S ROCKER.

[all wool and a yard wide]{adj. phr.} Of fine character; especially,very generous and kind-hearted. •/He’s a wonderful brother — all wool and ayard wide./

[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy] Too much hard work withouttime out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. — A proverb. •/Bill’smother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work andno play makes Jack a dull boy./

[all year round]{adv. phr.} Always; all the time; throughout allseasons of the year. •/In California the sun shines all year round./

[alone] See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELLENOUGH ALONE.

[along] See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUNALONG, STRING ALONG.

[along for the ride]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Being in a group forthe fun or the credit without doing any of the work. •/He wants no members inhis political party who are just along for the ride./

[along in years] or [on in years] {adj. phr.} Elderly; growing old.•/As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./ •/Ourdog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./

[alongside of]{prep.} 1. At or along the side of. •/We walkedalongside of the river./ 2. Together with. •/I played alongside of Tom onthe same team./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3.{informal} Compared with or to; measured next to. •/His money doesn’tlook like much alongside of a millionaire’s./

[a lot]{n.}, {informal} A large number or amount; very many orvery much; lots. •/I learned a lot in Mr. Smith’s class./ •/A lot of ourfriends are going to the beach this summer./ — Often used like an adverb.•/Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot./ •/Grandfather was very sicklast week, but he’s a lot better now./ •/You’ll have to study a lot harderif you want to pass./ — Also used as an adjective with "more", "less", and"fewer". •/There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will comenext week./ — Often used with "whole" for emphasis. •/John has a whole lotof marbles./ •/Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago./Compare: GOOD DEAL, GOOD MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.

[aloud] See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.

[alpha wave]{n.} A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated witha state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. •/Try toproduce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better./

[alter] See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

[always] See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

[ambulance chaser]{n.} An attorney who specializes in representingvictims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank ortalent. •/Don’t hire Cohen; he’s just another ambulance chaser./

[American plan]{n.} A system of hotel management in which meals areincluded with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not includemeals. •/American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals willbe included, because they are used to the American plan./

[amount to]{v.} Signify; add up to. •/John’s total income didn’tamount to more than a few hundred dollars./

[a must]{n.} 1. An inevitability; a necessity. •/Visas in manyforeign countries are a must./ 2. An extremely interesting or memorableevent, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. •/AlfredBrendel’s Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to bemissed; they’re a must./