To do everything you can to make something successful.
Examples:
- The kids pulled out all the stops and organized a really great party.
- Republicans pulled out all the stops to ensure that the seat in the ruby red state didn’t fall into Democratic hands, including two rallies from President Donald Trump on Monday to help seal the deal.
- He’ll have to pull out all the stops.
- In that case, it’s time to pull out all the stops.
All evidence to the origin of “Pull out all the stops” points to the construction of pipe organs. According to the American Guild of Organists, “The pipes are arranged in rows or ranks, according to these tone colors. To bring a rank of pipes into play, the organist pulls a knob or operates a tablet called a ‘stop.’” Do you see where this is going? Pushing a knob in “stops” the pipes from producing sound, and pulling out the stops increases the musical volume. Now just imagine pulling out all the stops.