and his mother
Serves as an intensifier for an inclusive noun or phrase such as everyone, anyone, each someone or all someones.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Everyone and his mother wants a ticket to that concert.”
“The new cafe is so popular that everyone and his mother is waiting in line for a coffee.”
“In the wake of the viral marketing campaign, everyone and his mother seemed to be wearing the same brand of sneakers.”
- 01
be mother
To pour out tea for others.
- 02
black over Bill's mother's
Describing rain-bearing dark clouds on the horizon.
- 03
like mother, like daughter
A daughter takes after her mother.
- 04
mother hen
An outspoken and overprotective woman or person dealing with others' affairs; especially, an assertive matriarch.
- 05
Mother Hubbard
Empty.
- 06
mother lode
Any source of valuable or useful material.
- 07
mother of all
Used before a plural noun to form a compound noun having the sense of: the greatest or largest of (its kind); the most epic example of (its kind).
- 08
patience of Mother Teresa
A great deal of patience.
Last updated August 10, 2026