Dictionary

give one's all

Verb

To make the utmost effort; to contribute, using all of one's abilities and resources.
- 1936 June 1, "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,756152,00.html Crime: Black Legion]," Time:
  After swearing to support God and the Constitution, to give his all in any "war" against Catholics, Jews, Negroes, aliens and Communists, he paid $7 for a robe, 10¢ monthly dues, bought himself a gun, became a member in good standing.
- 1990 Jan. 22, Peter B. Flint, "Barbara Stanwyck, Actress, Dead at 82 ↗," New York Times (retrieved 17 June 2011):
  [S]he was unique in not requiring rehearsals because she "gave her all the first time she tried a scene."
(idiomatic, euphemistic) To lose one's life while making the utmost effort with full commitment.
- 1929 April 10, "[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0CNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8CYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1976,7100832&dq=who-gave-their-all&hl=en Plans for War Mothers Pilgrimage Started]," Rochester Evening Journal and the Post Express, p. 26 (retrieved 18 June 2011):
  The Cemeterial Division . . . has taken up the huge task of establishing contact with the mothers or widows of the 30,000 American soldiers who gave their all and whose bodies rest in graves across the sea.
- 2005 Aug. 4, Kareem Fahim, "Sniper Kills New York Police Officer in Iraq ↗," New York Times (retrieved 17 June 2011):
  Police officers expressed shock at the news of their fellow officer's death. "He gave his all; he literally gave his all," said Officer Edward Looney.

Synonyms

(make the utmost effort) empty the tank, go all out, pull out all the stops, do one's utmost
(lose one's life) See Thesaurus:die

Translations

French: se donner à fond
Spanish: dar el do de pecho

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