Jump To:

• kitchen sink
  kitchen sink

  noun

  the final item imaginable on any extensive list of usually disparate items.
• kitchen-sink
  kitchen-sink

  adjective

  marked by an indiscriminate and omnivorous use of elements.

kitchen sink

¹ American  

noun

1. the final item imaginable on any extensive list of usually disparate items.

   He packed everything for his trip except the kitchen sink.

---

kitchen-sink ² American  

[kich-uhn-singk] / ˈkɪtʃ ənˈsɪŋk /

adjective

1. marked by an indiscriminate and omnivorous use of elements.

   a kitchen-sink approach to moviemaking.

---

kitchen sink British  

noun

1. a sink in a kitchen for washing dishes, vegetables, etc

2. everything that can be conceived of

3. (modifier) denoting a type of drama or painting of the 1950s depicting the sordid aspects of domestic reality

---

Etymology

Origin of kitchen sink¹

1870–75, for literal sense

Origin of kitchen-sink²

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

“We essentially throw the kitchen sink at it,” says Haskin.

From Slate • May 23, 2026

They could have called it the Drano Edition because they threw in the kitchen sink.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

“The administration may throw the kitchen sink at the market to try and fix housing,” he said.

From Barron's • Dec. 12, 2025

Forest threw the kitchen sink at them towards the end and he stood strong.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025

He braced himself in the cabin doorway, watching Vola pump water into the kitchen sink.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker