Idiom
Pull out all the stops
If you pull out all the stops, you make every possible effort and use everything you have to make something succeed.
How people use it
People use it for big efforts: "The school pulled out all the stops for its 100th anniversary." It suggests going beyond the usual, often spending more money, time or energy than normal. It is positive and a bit dramatic. You will mostly hear "pull out all the stops," though some people say "pull all the stops." It works for business, sports, events and family celebrations. Note that "stops" here is a noun, not the verb meaning to halt.
Also said: pull all the stops.
Examples
- The restaurant pulled out all the stops for the food critic's visit.
- My parents pulled out all the stops for their 40th anniversary party.
- If we want to win this contract, we need to pull out all the stops.
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from the pipe organ. On an organ, knobs called stops control which sets of pipes sound. Pulling a stop out lets that set of pipes play, so pulling out all the stops makes the organ as loud and full as it can be. People began using the phrase in a figurative way in the 1800s.
Check yourself
1. What does it mean if a team pulls out all the stops?
Answer: It makes every possible effort. Pulling out all the stops means giving the fullest effort possible.
2. Which musical instrument does the phrase come from?
Answer: The pipe organ. Organ stops control the pipes, and pulling them all out gives the fullest sound.
Similar idioms
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