be-all and end-all

English

Alternative forms

end-all and be-all

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Noun

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

(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, Shakespeare, William, 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:
  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.

Translations

Something considered to be of the utmost importance

Czech: první a poslední
Finnish: kaiken alku ja loppu

French: raison d'être (fr) f

See also

raison d'être

Anagrams

end-all and be-all

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