What Does "Whole Ball of Wax" Mean?
"Whole ball of wax" is an English idiom. It refers to an entire situation or set of circumstances, including all its complexities.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "whole ball of wax" used in a sentence:- Fixing the car turned out to be a whole ball of wax, with multiple issues that needed attention.
- The project was a whole ball of wax, involving many tasks and challenges.
- She didn't realize the wedding planning would be a whole ball of wax until she started organizing it.

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 "Whole Ball of Wax" 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.
A Quick Test
You now know what "whole ball of wax" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?