all things to all people
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.52 in modern English
28
Scrabble Score
20
Letters
5
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Someone or something that entirely satisfies the expectations of everyone, no matter how diverse and conflicting those expectations may be.
Example Sentences
- "It was obviously his policy to appear all things to all people. He could not venture to take any decided course."
- "No longer can we be all things to all people! We must decide which path to follow — are we to be physicians assistants, coordinators, supervisors, or skilled practitioners of nursing. The choice is ours!"
- "Most Poles realize that Solidarity cannot go on being all things to all people: trade union, political party, shaper of the country's future."
- "Mr. Clinton is often accused of wanting to be all things to all people, but that is a classic occupational hazard of his job."
- ""There's also a problem about schools being expected to be all things to all people.""
Etymology
From Holy Bible (King James Version), 1 Corinthians 9:22: "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."