‘Be All And End All’ Saying Origin & Meaning

“Be all and end all’s” basic meaning is: everything that can be said about something, everything that can be done about something, it’s the last word regarding something. It refers to something so complete that there’s no need to look further. It can also be seen as a humorous thing to say, perhaps about a person who believes themself to be the answer to everything – being the be all and end all.

The origin of “be all and end all”

This is a phrase that originates in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. It has no previous existence, it’s something simply spun in language by Shakespeare who was, as always, conjuring up exactly the right word or phrase to convey the precise meaning he intended,  thus inventing words and coining new, catchy, phrases, many of which become idioms.

Macbeth has been told by three supernatural visions (called ‘witches’ in the text) that he will become king. On learning that the king, Duncan, will visit him at his castle, he decides to murder him. Just before making his move Macbeth has second thoughts about the murder and tries to talk himself out ot it – a difficult task, because his ambition to be king is so powerful.

After outlining the reasons why he should not kill Duncan he turns to the religious implications – if he murders the king he will be eternally damned. Getting rid of Duncan won’t be the end of it. As he puts it, it won’t be “the be all and the end all.” There would still be consequences after his own death. Here it is:

If it were done, when ’tis done, then ’twere well
It were done quickly. If th’ assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease, success: that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We’d jump the life to come.

The development of the idiom “the be all and end all”

The idiom has been used in English for over 400 years, since Shakespeare coined it, and it has been used in a variety of contexts. In the early 17th century, the phrase was often used to refer to the end of the world. For example, in the 1640s, the English writer Thomas Fuller wrote, “The world is not the be-all and end-all of man.”

In the 18th century, the phrase began to be used more generally to refer to the most important thing in life. For example, in the 1750s, the English writer Samuel Johnson wrote, “Happiness is the be-all and end-all of human existence.”

The idiom “be all and end all” is still used today, and it is still used in a variety of contexts. It is a versatile idiom that can be used to express a variety of emotions, from humour to sadness. The idiom is a reminder that there is more to life than just one thing.

Here are some other examples of how the idiom “be all and end all” has been used in the past:

• “Looks are not the be all and end all. A lot of people value a sense of humour more.”
• “For every athlete a gold medal is the be all and end all.”
• “He acts as though he’s the be all and end all and needs to be taken down a peg or two.”
• “We’ve found the culprit. That’s the be all and end all of the matter: there’s no need to investigate further.

The idiom “be all and end all” is a reminder that there is more to life than just one thing. It is important to remember that there are many different things that can bring us happiness and fulfillment. We should not put all of our eggs in one basket, and we should not let one thing become the most important thing in our lives.

The idiom is regularly used in popular culture

In the film “The Breakfast Club,” for example, the character Allison Reynolds says, “Being popular isn’t the be-all and end-all.” This line is used to suggest that there are more important things in life than being popular.

The idiom has also been used in television shows, such as “The Simpsons” and “Friends.” In the “Simpsons” episode “Lisa on Ice,” Lisa says, “I don’t want to be the best figure skater in the world. That’s not the be-all and end-all.” This line is used to suggest that Lisa is not interested in winning at all costs.

The idiom has also been used in comics, such as “Calvin and Hobbes” and “Garfield.” In a “Calvin and Hobbes” strip, Calvin says, “I don’t think being a superhero is the be-all and end-all.” This line is used to suggest that Calvin is not interested in being a superhero just for the fame and glory.

In the song “The End of the World” by R.E.M., lead singer, Michael Stip, sings about how “the be all and end all is near.”

It’s the be all and end all…