# whole ball of wax

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/whole-ball-of-wax
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The entire or overall plan, concept or action.

## Examples

- I want the whole ball of wax, not just parts of it.
- The company offered to buy the building, the equipment, and the staff—the whole ball of wax.
- After reviewing the proposal, the committee decided to reject the whole ball of wax rather than negotiate the individual terms.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.