the whole nine yards = alles, das volle Programm, mit Sack und Pack, der ganze Kram
"If you’re going to spend this much money on a portable system, then get THE WHOLE NINE YARDS."
ExtremeTech Magazine
the whole nine yards (chiefly U.S.)
informal phrase
- everything you can possibly want, have, or do in a particular situation
Cambridge Dictionary
—
WORD ORIGIN
The expression “the whole nine yards” is one of the great mysteries in etymology.
Online language forums are full of lively debates and discussions regarding the origin of this phrase, including:
- the amount of material required to tailor a man’s three-piece suit
- the masts on sailing ships, called yardarms
- the length of a bridal veil
- the length of a machine-gun ammunition belt
- the amount of concrete that a mixing truck can hold (nine cubic yards)
- American football. The team with the ball is required to advance a distance of ten yards in four attempts before turning the ball over to the opposing team. The theory here is that nine yards is used in an ironic sense to mean do something completely.
—
SYNONYMS
*the whole kit and caboodle, the full monty, the works, the whole enchilada, the whole shebang, the whole ball of wax, everything but the kitchen sink
—
SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation
say something like:
"I like the Scottish theory that THE WHOLE NINE YARDS comes from the maximum length of material in a Scottish kilt. It's normally eight yards but for a large Scot, nine yards is necessary."