winner take all

Sometimes win·ner-take-all
Also win·ner takes all

[win-er teyk awl]

idiom

1. a situation or outcome in which the winner receives all the prizes or rewards (often used attributively).

   In some states, delegates are proportioned according to the vote, whereas in others the contests are winner take all.

   The qualifying tournament leaves little room for error, and once a team advances past group play, they face a must-win situation in a winner-take-all quarterfinal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of winner take all¹

First recorded in 1895–1900