A superlative of all work. To go all to pieces is to collapse utterly; to be altogether ruined; to be in a state of utter collapse.
/# 1667. Pepys, Diary, Aug. 29. I find by all hands that the Court is at this day all to pieces, every man of a faction of one sort or other.
1811. Jane Austen, Sense and S., ch. xxx. 'Fifty thousand pounds! and by all accounts it won't come before its wanted; for they say he is all to pieces. No wonder! dashing about with his curricle and hunters!'
1882. Punch, LXXXII., 185, 2. 'Ah Jerry, we might as well go back to the Shades as be among such a shady crowd.' Young Bob Logic seemed rather nettled at this speech of the Corinthian's, and said, 'Well, don't you know you can't expect a fellow to look very bright till he's had an S. and B., or two and a Kümmel? These pals will be all right after dinner.' 'Let us hope they will,' said the Corinthian, 'or they look ALL TO PIECES now.'
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2. When a woman is confined she is said to go all to pieces; variants being to explode; to bust up.
3. (rowing).--Collapsed; exhausted; said of a crew when rowing wildly.
/# 1884. Echo, April 7, p. 3, col. 1. The Oxford men were now all to pieces! their boat was full of water.
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4. (sporting).--In racing and athletic circles equivalent to want of form.
All to Smash, adv. phr. (common).--Also
'all to pieces,' i.e.,
bankrupt; ruined; in a state of
utter delapidation; or, complete
discomfiture.--See Smash.
/# 1861. Cuthbert Bede, Our New Rector, ch. x., p. 105. 'There isn't a fellow at school can match me, Miss Moore! I beat them all to smash!'
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All Up, adv. phr. (common).--'It's
all up' with so-and-so, or with
such and such a thing, or course
of action; i.e., the endeavour is
fruitless; utter ruin or collapse
is the end of it all; there is
nothing left for hope; sometimes
also, death. This phrase,
indicative of total failure, discomfiture,
and destruction, does
not appear to be of very ancient
standing, and can only be traced
back as far as Fielding (see quotation).
The mock epitaph,
which the late Mr. W. J. Conybeare
inserted in his novel Perversion,
fitly illustrates the popular
usage of all up. It is
supposed to be written in commemoration
of a country squire
cut off in the midst of festivities.
/# 'Quite well at ten, Had a few friends to sup with me; Taken ill at twelve, And at one it was all up with me.'
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Also Up.
Among English Synonyms may be mentioned:--To have missed stays (nautical); to have gone to pot; to have gone to smash; to have gone to the devil.
/# 1752. Fielding, Amelia, book XII., ch. vi. 'All is up and undone!' cries Murphy.
1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. lx. A-double l, all, everything; a cobbler's weapon; u-p, up, adjective, not down; s-q-u-double e-r-s, Squeers, noun substantive, a educator of youth. Total, all up with Squeers.
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Allus, adv. (vulgar).--Always.
All Wag Blue, subs. phr. (American).--A
frolicing, rollicking
time; a spree; a kick-up.
Allybeg.--See Llybege.
Almighty, adj. (common).--Mighty;
great; exceedingly--a superla-*
