All Over for Dummies

Student: Hey, teacher! I've come across the phrase "all over" in my reading, but I'm a bit confused about what it means. Can you help me understand it? Teacher: Of course, I'd be happy to help you! "All over" is a commonly used phrase that can have a few different meanings depending on the context. Let me break it down for you. First meaning: When someone says that something is "all over," they mean that it is scattered or spread out everywhere. Imagine if you accidentally spilled a box of colorful buttons, and they ended up all over the floor. There would be buttons in every nook and cranny, right? So, when something is "all over," it means it's not concentrated in one place, but rather widely distributed across an area. Second meaning: Another way "all over" can be used is to express that something is experienced or felt throughout the whole body. For example, if you had a terrible sunburn, you might say, "My skin hurts all over." In this case, "all over" suggests that the pain or sensation is not limited to just one spot but is felt in every part of your body. Third meaning: Additionally, "all over" can describe the completeness or thoroughness of an action. For instance, let's say you had a big test, and you studied really hard, reviewing all the topics and practicing all the problems. When you say, "I studied all over," it shows that you covered everything you needed to, leaving no stone unturned. Overall: So, whether it's describing something spread out, a sensation felt in every part of the body, or the thoroughness of an action, the phrase "all over" conveys a sense of fullness, ubiquity, or completeness. Student: Wow, thank you so much for explaining that! I never realized "all over" could have different meanings depending on the situation. Your examples and explanations really helped me understand it better.