lock, stock and barrel

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lock, stock and barrel

Where it comes from

From the three principal parts of a flintlock. The explanation that it refers to all of a shopkeeper’s possessions—the lock to the door, the stock in trade and the items stored in barrels—is fanciful. First attested in an 1817 letter by the Scottish novelist Walter Scott (see quotation).

adverb

not comparable Entirely, completely. They want to buy the whole thing, lock, stock and barrel.
Similar: absolutely, all-out, tout à fait, all the way, stone-cold, blind, altogether, stark, cold, at large, at length, cap-a-pie

noun

uncommon, uncountable The entirety of a thing, with nothing omitted. Congress are in possession of the flint, powder, gun, lock, stock and barrel, and still we exclaim with the old lady, take away the musket.
Similar: all the marbles, bag and baggage, everytang, everything but the galley stove, everything but the kitchen sink, everything under the sun, full monty, hook, line and sinker, kit and caboodle, lock, stock and barrel

Translations

Every language

noun entirely

Deutsch	mit allem Drum und Dran, mit Sack und Pack, mit Kind und Kegel

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MLA

"lock, stock and barrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lock%2C%20stock%20and%20barrel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

lock, stock and barrel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lock%2C%20stock%20and%20barrel

Chicago

"lock, stock and barrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lock%2C%20stock%20and%20barrel.

BibTeX

@misc{lock_stock_and_barrel_2026,
  title = {lock, stock and barrel},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lock%2C%20stock%20and%20barrel},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}