Idiom idiom
be-all and end-all
Meaning
Something considered to be of the utmost importance; something essential or ultimate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“Winning is not the be-all and end-all of sports.”
“Many people think a university degree is the be-all and end-all of success, but practical experience matters too.”
“While he initially believed that professional recognition was the be-all and end-all of his existence, he eventually found deeper satisfaction in his quiet, private life.”
Anchors to
Last updated August 10, 2026