Meaning
To be the most important person or thing to someone.
Practice Bank
3 exercisesMeine Familie ist mein ______ ______ sein.
Für ihn war seine Arbeit sein ______ ______.
Nach der Geburt ihres Kindes war es ihr ______ ______ sein.
🎉 Score: /3
The German phrase 'ein und alles sein' translates literally to 'to be one and all'. This idiom emphasizes exclusivity and paramount importance. Its origins can be traced to a broader semantic concept found in various languages, where 'one and all' signifies completeness, totality, or utter devotion. In German, the construction 'ein und alles' itself predates the common idiomatic usage, initially simply meaning 'everything' or 'the whole lot'. Over time, paired with the verb 'sein' (to be), it evolved to express being someone's absolute priority or the single most cherished person or thing. This development mirrors similar expressions in other Indo-European languages where numbers and totality are used to convey ultimate significance. The concept of 'one' often represents uniqueness and singularity, while 'all' encompasses everything, thus creating a powerful combination to describe ultimate importance. The phrase gained popularity through literature and common speech, solidifying its place as a recognized idiom to describe someone or something that holds the utmost value and affection for an individual. It implies a deep emotional connection and an irreplaceable role in one's life. The exact historical moment of its emergence as a fixed idiom is difficult to pinpoint, but its usage became firmly established by the 18th and 19th centuries, appearing in various literary works and correspondence to convey profound sentiment.
