ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE, subs. phr. (common).—Everyone.
1709–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, iii. Miss. Pray, Madam, who were the company? Lady Sm. Why there was THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE.
1766. C. ANSTEY, The New Bath Guide, Letter xiii.
| How he welcomes at once ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE, | |
| And how civil to folk he ne’er saw in his life! |
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, I. xvii. ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE and daughter leave cards. Sometimes THE WORLD’S WIFE has so many daughters, that her card reads rather like a Miscellaneous Lot at an Auction.
