The Whole Nine Yards | Meaning & Origin

The whole nine yards is an American English idiom that means “everything,” “all the way,” or “the full extent of something.” This idiom is used to convey that someone is doing all they can or that something is providing everything possible in a given situation.

For example, if you’re planning a birthday party and did as much as you could to include everything from clowns to balloons to a bounce house and more, you may say, “I went the whole nine yards to make sure this party was the best.”

The whole nine yards meaning and usage

“The whole nine yards” is an expression that describes someone or something as doing or including everything needed or desired in a certain context. The phrase is malleable and can fit innumerable situations.

While “the whole nine yards” is commonly preceded by “go,” “went,” or other verbs, this isn’t always necessary as it can be used as part of a list.

Although the phrase is commonly used with the definite article “the,” it’s not always necessary, especially when used as an adjective that describes something as complete or thorough.

The whole nine yards origin

As with “under the weather,” there are several theories that attempt to explain the origin of “the whole nine yards,” but they don’t have enough evidence to support them, or they don’t align with the known history of the phrase.

For example, one theory suggests that “the whole nine yards” originated during World War II, as certain military equipment, like ammunition belts and bomb racks, measured nine yards in length. However, it has been discovered that the phrase had been used idiomatically before World War II, so this theory is not considered plausible.

Another hypothesis explains that the likely origin of the phrase has to do with fabric lengths. It has been proposed that nine yards were needed to make Scottish kilts or burial shrouds, but it was also the standard length that fabric was sold in. Other theories explain that the idiom has to do with American football, concrete mixers, sailing ships, and even the length of graves.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known literal use of “the whole nine yards” was found in a humorous short story that was published in the New Albany Daily Ledger. The story is about a judge who forgot to pack a shirt during his travels. Consequently, a friend orders a shirt for him that is ridiculously large. When the judge tries on the shirt, the friend lies and explains that he ordered three shirts to be made, but that the seamstress instead put “the whole nine yards” into one shirt.

Moreover, the idiomatic use of “the whole nine yards” first appeared in 1907 in a newspaper called The Mitchell Commercial. It appeared three times in seven years afterward and was used similarly to how it is used today.

Frequently asked questions about the whole nine yards

What does the full nine yards mean?

The “full nine yards” is a less popular variant of the American English expression “the whole nine yards.” Both mean “everything” or “the full extent of something” and describe someone or something as having, desiring, or giving their all in a certain situation (e.g., “I wanted the whole nine yards for my going away party”).

Where did the saying the whole nine yards come from?

It is not known for certain when and where the expression “the whole nine yards” originated. There are many theories, including some that link the idiom to the length of Scottish kilts, weaponry used in World War II, American football, sailing ships, and more.