From Soup to Nuts (Definition, Origin, Examples)

From soup to nuts. Some phrases and words have extended metaphorical meanings apart from their literal meanings. One such expression is from soup to nuts. Let us see the meaning of this term, its origin, and how it is used in conversation.

Definition of Soup to Nuts

It means from beginning to end or the whole thing, including everything.

Etymology

This is an informal American expression derived from a full-course meal. A full-course meal starts with soup and ends with a nutty dessert. People have meals in the sequence of appetizers, entrees, or main dishes and desserts. Soups are appetizers, and dessert is a sweet treat with nuts. 

Origin

This idiom is American English. American society is well-known for vivid idioms that mean one thing but generally refer to something different. The idiom soup to nuts sounds like talking about food, but it is referring to something else entirely. It originated in the United States during the 20th century. 

It is not restricted to fine dining. It can be used in classes, services, and products. It describes an assortment of things sold. For example, someone says that they were selling all parts of something, from soup to nuts. This expression can indicate a group of classified things like a particular genre. 

This expression is relatively modern. There are other expressions, like from eggs to apples and from pottage to cheese, for centuries. “From pottage to cheese” is seen in John Heywood’s proverb collection of 1546. “From eggs to cheese” is from John Clarke’s 1639 collection.

A similar cliche comes from sports is from start to finish. It is also similar to the phrase “from soda to hock,” which means from the start to the end of a round in a banking game called Faro.

Synonyms

• From start to finish
• From A to Z
• Absolute
• Complete
• Detailed
• Meticulous
• From pottage to cheese
• From eggs to apples
• In-depth
• All-out
• Comprehensive
• Intensive
• Throughgoing
• Whole-hog
• From stern to stern
• Totality
• From head to toe
• Exhaustive

Example Sentences

• The entire course of action is changing from soup to nuts.
• We went through the whole procedure, from soup to nuts.
• They had to learn a whole current system from soup to nuts.
• The whole book was boring, from soup to nuts.
• My whole day was terrible, from soup to nuts.
• The company wants a manager who can handle from soup to nuts. 
• My mother bought everything from soup to nuts for a birthday party. 

Examples Conversation

A discussion between friends

• John: I came back yesterday from Maldives
• Mark: Wow!!. How was the trip?
• John: It was awesome.
• Mark: Tell me everything from soup to nuts!

A discussion between colleagues

• Paul: Mary has worked on this blueprint from soup to nuts.
• Ben: So she can clarify my queries, if any?
• Paul: Absolutely! She can answer what you are looking for.

Application of idiom

There is a feature film, Soup to nuts, released in 1930. 

There is an episode, Soup to nuts, in a 1986 episode of Mama’s family.

There is an American comic strip, Soup to Nutz, set up in 2000

There is an episode, Soup to Nuts, in That’s so raven

A comedy short film by Laurel and Hardy named From Soup to Nuts.

An extinct production company is well known for its animated comedies named Soup2Nuts.