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Everybody and His Cousin

What Does "Everybody and His Cousin" Mean?

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"Everybody and his cousin" is an English idiom. It is a hyperbolic way to indicate a large number or everyone.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "everybody and his cousin" used in a sentence:
  • Everybody and his cousin was at the concert last night.
  • I felt like everybody and his cousin knew the secret except for me.
  • When the sale was announced, everybody and his cousin showed up.
meaning for everybody and his cousin

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Everybody and His Cousin" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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