and all that
Meaning
It refers to similar or related things that are implicitly understood, often used to avoid listing details or to convey a dismissive attitude.
Origin
Imagine the bustling informal conversations of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, where people needed a quick verbal shortcut, a way to wave away the tedious details without actually saying "etcetera." The phrase "and all that" emerged from this need, building on older, simpler forms like "and all" or "and everything." It's a package deal of the unsaid, the unspoken, the things you just know. This conversational gem truly found its literary spotlight in the mid-20th century, becoming iconic in J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye." Holden Caulfield, the quintessential voice of teenage angst and cynicism, peppered his monologue with "and all that," turning a common idiom into a hallmark of his disaffected, world-weary persona. From casual chatter to classic literature, it became the perfect verbal shrug, a concise way to say, "You get the gist, don't you?"
Examples
- After the party, there was a lot of cleaning up to do, plates to wash, floors to sweep, and all that.
- He talked about his new job, the commute, the difficult boss, and all that, but I wasn't really listening.