Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Something used as a general receptacle for odds and ends, as a table, bureau, chest, etc.; especially, a basket or bag provided for the purpose.
  • noun A tool for recovering broken tools from a boring.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Used to hold, include, or describe a broad range of things; used as a catchall.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From catch + all.

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Examples

  • "If the PJD forms a coalition in a free and independent way and not with a party of the Makhzen," he said referring to the catch-all phrase for the entrenched establishment around the king, "this will be a big step forward for Morocco."

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • "If the PJD forms a coalition in a free and independent way and not with a party of the Makhzen," he said referring to the catch-all phrase for the entrenched establishment around the king, "this will be a big step forward for Morocco."

    SFGate: Don Asmussen: Bad Reporter By PAUL SCHEMM 2011

  • "If the PJD forms a coalition in a free and independent way and not with a party of the Makhzen," he said referring to the catch-all phrase for the entrenched establishment around the king, "this will be a big step forward for Morocco."

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com The Huffington Post News Editors 2011

  • "If the PJD forms a coalition in a free and independent way and not with a party of the Makhzen," he said referring to the catch-all phrase for the entrenched establishment around the king, "this will be a big step forward for Morocco."

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2011

  • Like Mr. Wang, however, they have given no details of how they plans to tackle these problems, apart from making repeated calls for improved "social management"—a catch-all phrase that appears to include riot police, teargas and armored vehicles.

    Unease in 'Happy Guangdong' Jeremy Page 2011

  • It is true that the term "experimental fiction" is a catch-all term of convenience that doesn't necessarily signal anything very specific about what particular writers might be up to in their efforts to, if not "make it new," then "make it different."

    Experimental Fiction 2010

  • (Manga, media (small), graphic novels (catch-all), superheroes (very small) are the others.)

    Marvel Fails at Bookstore Market » Comics Worth Reading 2009

  • Under such a catch-all restriction, virtually any kind of conversation about – or critique of – Islam can be considered impermissible if Muslims find it offensive.

    Stealth Jihad by Frank Gaffney, Jr. and The American Legion « Mark12ministries’s Weblog 2010

  • In fact, a Mexican momento is a tricky catch-all, a strange little net with many holes.

    New meaning to mañana 2009

  • Most of the growth came from the company's catch-all electronics and general merchandise category, which increased sales by 68%.

    Costly Sales Growth for Amazon Geoffrey A. Fowler 2010

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