all-out
all-out — adjective
1. involving the greatest possible energy, commitment, and range of methods, all di
involving the greatest possible energy, commitment, and range of methods, all directed at one goal.
The hospital launched an all-out effort to trace every exposed patient.
all-out + noun: all-out effort
Emre's company made an all-out push to win the contract before December.
collocation: all-out push
The two nations slid into an all-out war within a single week.
Firefighters mounted an all-out assault on the flames spreading through the warehouse.
Lara threw herself into an all-out attempt to finish the city marathon.
- full-scale
stresses size or extent rather than intensity of effort
- wholehearted
emphasises sincere commitment; less about aggression
- flat-out
informal; focuses on speed as well as effort
- half-hearted
lacking full commitment
- limited
deliberately restricted in scope
文法句型
all-out + noun (effort/war/attack/push)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive); you cannot say 'the effort was all-out'. Frequent nouns: effort, war, attack, assault, push, ban, strike.
常見錯誤
2. (in cricket) describing a team that can no longer bat in an innings because ever
(in cricket) describing a team that can no longer bat in an innings because every one of its batters has been dismissed.
England were all out for just ninety runs before the lunch break.
be all out for + score
By tea, the visiting side was all out, losing its last three wickets cheaply.
Kenya batted poorly and were all out inside thirty overs on day one.
The home team collapsed and was all out for under a hundred.
- dismissed
used of individual batters or the whole side
- bowled out
specifically when all wickets fall to the bowlers
- not out
of a batter who has not been dismissed
文法句型
be all out for + score
用法筆記
Restricted to cricket and nearly always predicative ('were all out'), unlike sense 1, which sits before a noun. Often followed by 'for' plus the team's total.
常見錯誤
all-out — adverb
1. putting in every bit of effort and trying every method to reach a goal.
putting in every bit of effort and trying every method to reach a goal.
Christopher went all out to make his daughter's birthday party unforgettable.
go all out to + verb
The bakery went all out, decorating every window for the town festival.
Gita trained all out for months before the national swimming trials.
Our small team went all out to deliver the project a week early.
Tendai campaigned all out, knocking on doors across the entire district.
- flat out
informal; stresses speed as well as effort
- wholeheartedly
emphasises sincerity over intensity
- half-heartedly
with little effort or commitment
文法句型
go/went all out
all out to + verb
用法筆記
Always follows the verb it modifies, most often 'go' ('go all out'). Distinguish from sense 2, the cricket use, which describes a team's dismissal rather than the manner of an action.
常見錯誤
2. (in cricket) at the moment a side's innings finishes because each of its batters
(in cricket) at the moment a side's innings finishes because each of its batters has been dismissed.
The tourists folded badly and were all out by the second afternoon.
Pakistan slumped to all out for one hundred and twelve before tea.
all out for + score
Rain came only after the home side had been bowled all out.
Australia were all out within forty overs, far short of the target.
- bowled out
when all wickets fall to the bowlers
- dismissed
used of the whole side
- not out
still batting, not yet dismissed
文法句型
be all out for + score
all out within + overs
用法筆記
Cricket-only and predicative; the adverb marks the point at which the innings ends rather than a manner of acting. Compare sense 1, which means 'with maximum effort'.
常見錯誤
all-out — phrasal verb
- all-outbase form
- all-outs3rd person singular
- all-outing-ing form
- all-outedpast simple
1. to do something with the greatest possible determination and energy, holding not
to do something with the greatest possible determination and energy, holding nothing back.
Maeve goes all out every December, covering her whole house in lights.
go all out
The chef went all out for the wedding, preparing nine separate courses.
go all out for + occasion
Anjali went all out to welcome the new students on their first day.
Léa went all out planning the surprise trip for her grandparents.
- go the extra mile
make an effort beyond what is expected
- pull out all the stops
use every resource for a big occasion
- do the bare minimum
make only the least effort needed
文法句型
go all out
go all out for + noun
go all out to + verb
用法筆記
Almost always appears as the fixed phrase 'go all out'; the subject is a person or group choosing to make a total effort. Often followed by 'for' plus an occasion or 'to' plus a verb.