all the

all the
I. phrasal
: as much of … as : as much of a … as : the only

all the home I ever had

II. phrasal
chiefly dialect : as … as — used with an adverb or adjective usually comparative in form

all the higher

all the high

but with the meaning of the positive (as high as)

all the farther he could go was up to that fence

* * *

all the
— used to give added force to a word like “more” or “better”

With the economy in such bad shape, it's all the more important [=it's even more important] that we correct these problems quickly.

If we arrive early, all the better. [=it will be even better if we arrive early]

• • •
Main Entry: ↑all

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • all the(2) — {adv. phr.} Than otherwise; even. Used to emphasize comparative adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. * /Opening the windows made it all the hotter./ * /Take a bus instead of walking and get home all the sooner./ * /If you don t eat your dessert, all… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the(2) — {adv. phr.} Than otherwise; even. Used to emphasize comparative adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. * /Opening the windows made it all the hotter./ * /Take a bus instead of walking and get home all the sooner./ * /If you don t eat your dessert, all… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the ---er — {substandard} The est; as ... as. Used with a comparative adjective or adverb and subordinate clause in place of a superlative adjective or adverb. * /That was all the bigger he grew./ * /Is that all the faster you can go?/ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the ---er — {substandard} The est; as ... as. Used with a comparative adjective or adverb and subordinate clause in place of a superlative adjective or adverb. * /That was all the bigger he grew./ * /Is that all the faster you can go?/ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the(1) — {adj. phr.}, {dial.} The only. * /A hut was all the home he ever had./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the(1) — {adj. phr.}, {dial.} The only. * /A hut was all the home he ever had./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • all the — phrasal as much of…as ; as much of a…as < all the home I ever had > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • All the better — All All, adv. 1. Wholly; completely; altogether; entirely; quite; very; as, all bedewed; my friend is all for amusement. And cheeks all pale. Byron. [1913 Webster] Note: In the ancient phrases, all too dear, all too much, all so long, etc., this… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • All the same — All All, adv. 1. Wholly; completely; altogether; entirely; quite; very; as, all bedewed; my friend is all for amusement. And cheeks all pale. Byron. [1913 Webster] Note: In the ancient phrases, all too dear, all too much, all so long, etc., this… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • All the whole — All All, a. [OE. al, pl. alle, AS. eal, pl. ealle, Northumbrian alle, akin to D. & OHG. al, Ger. all, Icel. allr. Dan. al, Sw. all, Goth. alls; and perh. to Ir. and Gael. uile, W. oll.] 1. The whole quantity, extent, duration, amount, quality, or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • all the time — {adv. phr.} 1. or[all the while] During the whole period; through the whole time. * /Mary went to college in her home town and lived at home all the while./ * /Most of us were surprised to hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue …   Dictionary of American idioms

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