all the way

all the way

1. Lit. from the beginning to the end; the entire distance, from start to finish. •

The ladder reaches all the way to the top of the house.

•

I walked all the way home.

2. Fig. with everything on it, as with a hamburger with pickles, onion, catsup, mustard, lettuce, etc. •

I'd like one double cheeseburger—all the way.

•

Make mine all the way.

3. Sl. [progressing] up to and including sexual intercourse. •

They went all the way on their date last night.

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or[the whole way] {adv. phr.} 1. From start to finish during the whole distance or time. * /Jack climbed all the way to the top of the tree./ * /Joe has played the whole way in the football game and it's almost over./ 2. In complete agreement; with complete willingness to satisfy. - Often used in the phrase "go all the way with". * /I go all the way with what George says about Bill./ * /Mary said she was willing to kiss Bill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him./ * /The bank was willing to lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but it wasn 't willing to go all the way with his plans to build another in the next town./ Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.