Idioms — Set 74

Set 74 of Idioms covers 5 idioms: pull out all the stops, right off the bat, in the long run, against all odds, put the pieces together. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. pull out all the stops · idiom/pʊl aʊt ɔl ðə stɑps/

   to make every effort to achieve something

   They pulled out all the stops for their wedding, sparing no expense on decorations and food.

   Origin: From organ playing — pulling out every 'stop' (knob) on a pipe organ produced its loudest, fullest possible sound.

2. right off the bat · idiom/raɪt ɔf ðə bæt/

   immediately, without delay

   Right off the bat, I could tell that he wasn’t interested in the conversation.

   Origin: From American baseball — the moment a ball comes off the bat, the action immediately begins on the field.

3. in the long run · idiom/ɪn ðə lɔŋ rʌn/

   over a long period of time, considering future effects

   Eating healthy may be hard now, but in the long run, it will benefit your health.

   Origin: Used since the 1600s — likely comes from running long distances where the final outcome differs from the start.

4. against all odds · idiom/əˈɡɛnst ɔl ɑdz/

   succeeding despite great difficulties or low chances

   Against all odds, the underdog team won the championship.

   Origin: From horse racing — 'odds' described the unlikely chance of winning; succeeding against them seemed almost miraculous.

5. put the pieces together · idiom/pʊt ðə ˈpisɪz təˈɡɛðɚ/

   to understand a situation by analyzing different facts

   After hearing different stories, the detective finally put the pieces together and solved the case.

   Origin: From jigsaw puzzles — fitting separate pieces together gradually reveals the whole picture and understanding.