all or nothing

all or nothing

1. Lit. everything or nothing at all. •

Sally would not accept only part of the money. She wanted all or nothing.

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I can't bargain over trif les. I will have to have all or nothing.

2. Fig. [the best] time to choose to do something or not to do it. •

It was all or nothing. Tim had to jump off the truck or risk drowning when the truck went into the water.

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Jane stood at the door of the airplane and checked her parachute. It was all or nothing now. She had to jump or be looked upon as a coward.