All in
Meaning
Completely committed to an endeavor or thoroughly exhausted.
Origin
The phrase 'all in' hails directly from the high-stakes world of poker, where a player declares 'all in' to wager every single chip they possess on their current hand. This dramatic pronouncement signifies absolute commitment and an inability to make further bets, making it a pivotal, do-or-die moment on the felt table. From this intense crucible of chance and strategy, the term gracefully migrated into everyday English, retaining its powerful essence of full, unwavering dedication or, conversely, the deep exhaustion that comes from having given absolutely everything to a task.
Examples
- After a grueling week of campaigning, the candidate was all in and ready for a break.
- She went all in on her passion project, investing every spare moment and penny.