All and sundry

Meaning

The idiom "all and sundry" is an adjective that refers to a large number or variety of things, usually in a general or unspecified manner. It is often used to describe a collection of items or people, rather than individual items or people.

Usage

• The store had all and sundry items on sale.
• We invited all and sundry guests to the party.
• She collected all and sundry souvenirs during her trip abroad.
• The scientist conducted experiments with all and sundry chemicals to test their effects.
• The comedian used all and sundry jokes in his routine. The usage of "all and sundry" can vary depending on the context. For example, it may be used to describe a group of people, such as "a large crowd of all and sundry individuals gathered at the event." In this case, the idiom is used to emphasize that there were many different types of people present.

Roots and History

The idiom "all and sundry" has its roots in Middle English, where it was first used as an adjective in the 13th century. It comes from the phrase "al middel" or "middel," which means "in the middle" or "between." Over time, the phrase evolved to include a more general sense of any and all things in between.

Synonyms in English

• Various
• Multiple
• Plural
• Collection
• Group

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: diversos/diversas (various)
• French: différents/différentes (various)
• German: verschiedene (various)
• Italian: diversi/diverse (various)
• Japanese: 異なる/異なった (various)

Similar Idioms

• at daggers drawn

• all that glitters is not gold

• as different as chalk and cheese