all on: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “all on” mean?
to be someone's responsibility or burden.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to be someone's responsibility or burden; to depend entirely on someone
To place the full weight or expectation on a person, often implying pressure or unfair distribution of responsibility; also used to describe something that is someone's fault or doing
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use identically, though slightly more common in British English. 'All on me' more frequent in US, 'all on my shoulders' more frequent in UK.
Connotations
Slightly stronger sense of grievance in British usage; more matter-of-fact in American.
Frequency
Medium frequency in both, appearing in spoken and informal written contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “all on” in a Sentence
[be] all on [sb][put/leave/fall] all on [sb][sb] has it all on [sb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all on” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- It all comes on you in the end.
- Don't let it all land on your lap.
American English
- The blame will all fall on them.
- They put it all on her to fix.
adverb
British English
- The responsibility lies all on the manager.
- The fault isn't all on one person.
American English
- The work fell all on the newest intern.
- Don't lay it all on me.
adjective
British English
- He's got it all on his plate at the moment.
- She's feeling the pressure with it all on her.
American English
- I'm all on edge about the presentation.
- The team is all on board with the plan.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The project deadline is all on the marketing team now.'
Academic
Rare, except in informal speech among colleagues.
Everyday
'Why is cleaning the kitchen all on me again?'
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all on”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “all on”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all on”
- Using 'all in' instead of 'all on' (different meaning)
- Omitting 'all' ('it's on you' is weaker)
- Using with non-human subjects incorrectly ('The success is all on the weather')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's primarily informal or colloquial. Avoid in academic or official documents.
Rarely. It typically carries a negative or burdensome connotation. A positive spin would be unusual.
They are very close synonyms. 'All on' often implies more burden or blame, while 'all up to' can be more neutral regarding choice or decision.
Typically yes (all on me/you/him/her/them/us). Using an object ('all on the system') is atypical and often incorrect.
to be someone's responsibility or burden.
All on: in British English it is pronounced /ɔːl ɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɔl ɑn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “all on your lonesome”
- “all on your tod”
- “all on your own head be it”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a single person carrying ALL the weight ON their back.
Conceptual Metaphor
BURDEN IS WEIGHT / RESPONSIBILITY IS A PHYSICAL LOAD
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'all on' correctly?