all at once

Idioms & Phrases

all at once

  1. All at the same time, as in We can't get inside all at once, so please wait your turn. [Late 1300s]

  2. Suddenly, unexpectedly, as in All at once the sky darkened. For a synonym, see all of a sudden.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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