all wool and a yard wide

Idioms  

1. Genuine, not fake; of excellent quality; also, honorable. For example, You can count on Ned—he's all wool and a yard wide. This metaphorical term alludes to a length of highly valued pure-wool cloth that measures exactly a yard (and not an inch less). [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

He's the same old Frank . . . just like he was before the election ... all wool and a yard wide.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now, there's a feller," went on Charlie after a moment, "that's all wool and a yard wide.

From Quill's Window by McCutcheon, George Barr

"He's all wool and a yard wide, isn't he?"

From Tom Slade with the Colors by Clarity, Thomas

Every one o' them true-blue, all wool and a yard wide.

From Si Klegg, Book 6 (of 6) Si And Shorty, With Their Boy Recruits, Enter On The Atlanta Campaign by McElroy, John

They're all wool and a yard wide, but you needn't think my handmade nobility is going to efface itself just because the Montmorencies and the Rohans don't ask it out to dine.

From Mr. Bonaparte of Corsica by Bangs, John Kendrick