ENENENEN
FR
ES
RU
IT
TR
UKonce and for all
/wˈɒns and fɔːɹ ˈɔːl/
/wˈʌns ænd fɔːɹ ˈɔːl/once and for all
[PHRASE]1
in a way that finalizes and completes the matter at hand
synonyms : conclusively
antonyms : inconclusively
What is the origin of the idiom "once and for all" and when to use it?
The idiom "once and for all" has roots in Middle English and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is an idiomatic expression that emerged from the combination of the individual words "once" and "for all," which have been used separately in English for much longer. This expression is used in personal situations to resolve conflicts or make firm commitments, in professional settings to establish clear guidelines or decisions, in legal matters to settle disputes conclusively, and in discussions or debates to assert a final position or settle an argument.
Examples
1. And of course I've been trying to take care of myself once and for all and do better, eat better, not perfectly but you know, at least do a little bit better than what I have been.
2. That's if Congress passes a 15 billion dollar bill to overhaul the system once and for all.
3. And find an answer to this extremely important scientific problem, once and for all.
4. To stamp out NTDs once and for all, what's possibly the biggest medical program in human history was launched, unmatched in scale.
more