“End All Be All” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 18, 2024 by Liam Daniel

“End all be all” is a phrase that is not used very often in everyday conversation and writing, but it has not quite yet disappeared from speech altogether. Regardless, it is difficult to understand this phrase if you have never heard it before. Here you will find the meaning of this phrase and discover a bit about its origin. You will also find some example sentences and conversations so you can see and learn how this phrase is used properly in regular conversation and discover some alternatives that you can use in place of this phrase to convey the same meaning.

“End All Be All” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “end all be all” refers to something that is considered the ultimate or most important aspect of a situation. It implies that the item, concept, or idea in question is the definitive or final solution, often suggesting that nothing else is necessary or that nothing can surpass it in importance or significance.
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“End All Be All” Meaning

The phrase “end all, be all” refers to the ultimate or most important aspect of something. It suggests that whatever is being discussed is considered the final or most significant factor in a situation, often implying that it is the only thing that truly matters.

Examples:

  • “For him, winning this championship is the end all, be all of his career.”
  • “I love this city; the food scene is the end all, be all for me.”

Origin of This Idiom

There is little information regarding the origin of the phrase “end all be all.” The only thing certain is that the first variation of the phrase was written by Shakespeare in the play Macbeth in the year 1605. The phrase is more commonly written oppositely “be all end all” and sometimes it appears with hyphens to separate the words “be-all-end-all” or “end-all-be-all.”

Usage of “End All Be All”

  • In a discussion about priorities:

“Winning this championship is important, but it’s not the end all be all; we also need to focus on developing our younger players.”

  • Talking about life goals:

“She used to think that getting into a prestigious university was the end all be all, but now she values personal happiness more.”

  • During a conversation about success:

“While money is important, it’s not the end all be all; happiness and fulfillment in life matter just as much.”

  • In a reflection on relationships:

“Having a perfect partner isn’t the end all be all; mutual respect and understanding are what truly matter.”

Related Terms to “End All Be All”

  • Ultimate – the final or most important point; the highest or most significant.
  • Be-all and end-all – a variation of the phrase, emphasizing that something is the most critical aspect.
  • Final say – the last decision or opinion that holds the most weight or authority.
  • Decisive factor – the element that determines the outcome or importance of a situation.
  • Supreme – the highest in rank, quality, or importance.
  • Paramount – more important than anything else; supreme in importance.
  • Key element – a crucial part or factor that significantly influences a situation.
  • Nexus – a central or focal point where multiple elements converge and hold significance.
  • Essential – absolutely necessary or extremely important; fundamental.
  • Main focus – the primary point of attention or interest in a situation.

Alternatives to “End All Be All”

There are many ways you can say “end all be all” with other words or phrases. Some of the substitutions you could use include:

  • The most important
  • The utmost important
  • Most significant

“End All Be All” Examples

Example Sentences

  • The end all be all for the seasons for all football players is winning the Super Bowl.
  • Seeing their child happy, healthy, and successful is the end all be all of any parent.

Example Conversations

A conversation between a mother and her daughter.

  • Daughter: I don’t know what I want to do with my life, mom.
  • Mother: Well, you have three more years of high school to figure that out.
  • Daughter: I know, but it seems like most people my age have it all figured out already.
  • Mother: Trust me, even if they think they do, they don’t.
  • Daughter: So you don’t think its a problem that I am still so undecided?
  • Mother: Not at all! Look, my end all be all is that you are happy with whatever it is you decide to do. I know you will settle on something eventually, but for now, just explore and experience everything and take your time figuring it out.

A conversation between two friends.

  • Friend 1: Did you get the job you went on an interview for the other day?
  • Friend 2: No. They offered it to me and I didn’t take it.
  • Friend 1: Really? Why? I thought you said it would be the perfect fit.
  • Friend 2: Well, I thought so too. I changed my mind at the interview though after finding out some things. The end all be all for me though was the pay. It was a lot less than what I am making per hour now and I cannot afford to take that kind of pay cut.
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