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Synonyms

ball of wax

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. everything, including all details, parts, etc., relating to a particular matter.

    He came back from Chicago with the contract for the whole ball of wax.


Etymology

Origin of ball of wax

First recorded in 1950–55


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“It’s the same sort of ball of wax: People getting frustrated, feeling strained and acting out toward others,” said Charis E. Kubrin, a criminologist at the University of California, Irvine.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 12, 2022

“Having to deal with ‘Nirvana Inc.’ is a whole different ball of wax than just dealing with Krist, Kurt and Dave.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2020

And you must say though, everything that I have done is all within the entertainment ball of wax.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2020

A: We’re the whole ball of wax as performers and actors, and comedy is kind of a serious thing.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 7, 2016

I feel something in my throat, like a ball of wax, so thick I can barely swallow, barely breathe.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

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