[all the worse] See: ALL THE 2.
[all thumbs] , Awkward, especially with your hands; clumsy. * /Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs./
[all told] , Counting or including everything. * /Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all told./
[all to the good] See: TO THE GOOD.
[all up] , Near to certain death or defeat without any more chance or hope. * /With their ammunition gone the patrol knew that it was all up with them./
[all very well] All right; very good and correct; very true. - Usually followed by a "but" clause. * /It's all very well for you to complain but can you do any better?/ * /It's all very well if Jane comes with us, but how will she get back home?/ Compare: WELL AND GOOD.
[all walks of life] All socioeconomic groups; all professions and lines of work. * /A good teacher has to be able to communicate with students from all walks of life./ * /A clever politician doesn't alienate people from any walk of life./
[all wet] , Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken. * /When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people thought they were all wet./ * /If you think I like baseball, you're all wet./ Compare: OFF ONE'S ROCKER.
[all wool and a yard wide] Of fine character; especially, very generous and kind-hearted. * /He's a wonderful brother - all wool and a yard wide./
[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy] Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. - A proverb. * /Bill's mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy./
[all year round] Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. * /In California the sun shines all year round./
[alone] See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.
[along] See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUN ALONG, STRING ALONG.
[along for the ride] , Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. * /He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride./
[along in years] or [on in years] Elderly; growing old. * /As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./ * /Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./
