the be-all and end-all

noun phrase

: the most important part of something or the reason for something

He acts as if making money is the be-all and end-all of human existence.

Examples of the be-all and end-all in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beware of tech bros who use it as the be-all and end-all. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026

Film is not the be-all and end-all for Seydoux. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 18 May 2026

Devising scenes together can be the be-all and end-all for a lot of improv comedy artists. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026

But another recent development in the awards space is that a late fall release is no longer the be-all and end-all for a Best Picture win. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 1 May 2026

Rhymes for the be-all and end-all

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