kitchen sink
B1Neutral to informal. The literal term is standard in all registers. The figurative idiom is common in informal and spoken contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A large basin with a faucet and drain, typically set into a countertop or cabinet in a kitchen, used for washing dishes, food preparation, and other kitchen tasks.
Often used figuratively in the idiom "everything but the kitchen sink" to mean an excessive or overwhelming number of things, implying nothing (or almost nothing) has been omitted. Can also refer to a style of drama ("kitchen sink realism") focusing on gritty, domestic, working-class life.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is primarily a compound noun. Its literal meaning is concrete and domestic. The figurative extension hinges on the sink as a quintessential, fixed, and bulky item of kitchen furniture—the last thing one would think to include or discard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal for the literal object. The idiom "everything but the kitchen sink" is common in both varieties. The theatrical term "kitchen sink drama/realism" originated in mid-20th century UK culture.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal term is purely functional. The idiom carries a connotation of humorous excess or thoroughness.
Frequency
The literal term is extremely high frequency. The idiom is common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] the kitchen sink (clean, install, replace)[PREP] the kitchen sink (in, by, under)kitchen sink [NOUN] (unit, cabinet, drama)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “everything but the kitchen sink”
- “kitchen sink drama”
- “throw the kitchen sink at [something/someone] (to use every available resource or tactic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical use: "Their proposal included everything but the kitchen sink."
Academic
Rare in literal sense; appears in cultural/ literary studies re: "kitchen sink realism."
Everyday
Very high frequency for the literal object. Common for the idiom.
Technical
Used in plumbing, interior design, and kitchen fitting contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The plumber is coming to fix the leak under the kitchen sink.
- That play is a classic piece of 1960s kitchen sink realism.
American English
- We need a new garbage disposal for the kitchen sink.
- He packed everything but the kitchen sink for a weekend trip.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We're renovating and have chosen a new stainless steel kitchen sink.
- Her suitcase was so heavy; she'd packed everything but the kitchen sink!
- The film director was known for his gritty, kitchen-sink approach to storytelling.
- In a desperate attempt to win, the team threw the kitchen sink at their opponents in the final quarter.
- The critic argued that the novel's strength lay in its unflinching, kitchen-sink portrayal of post-industrial urban decay.
- The legislation was a kitchen-sink bill, crammed with unrelated amendments in the hope that something would pass.
- The kitchen sink is full of dishes.
- Please wash your hands at the kitchen sink.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the KITCHEN as the room, and the SINK as where things go down the drain. For the idiom, imagine someone packing for a trip and taking their entire house—except the heavy, plumbed-in sink.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SINK AS A FIXED, UBIQUITOUS BOUNDARY OBJECT (the last thing to be moved or included) --> EXHAUSTIVE INCLUSION/EXCESS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque "кухонная раковина" where just "раковина" is sufficient in context.
- The idiom "everything but the kitchen sink" is similar to "все, включая/кроме (последней) мелочи" or "все, что только можно."
Common Mistakes
- Using "kitchen" as an adjective without the noun "sink" when referring to the fixture (e.g., *'I washed it in the kitchen.'* vs. 'I washed it in the kitchen sink.').
- Incorrect plural: *'kitchens sink'* instead of 'kitchen sinks'.
- Misspelling as a single word: *'kitchensink'*.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'everything but the kitchen sink' typically express?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a two-word compound noun, typically not hyphenated.
Yes, attributively (functioning as a compound adjective), especially in terms like 'kitchen sink drama' or 'kitchen sink realism'. It is not used predicatively (*'The drama is kitchen sink').
It is believed to have originated in the mid-20th century, likely from armed forces slang, humorously suggesting someone had packed or taken absolutely everything except for the most ridiculous, heavy, and fixed item.
A 'sink' is a general term for a fixed basin with a water supply and drain. A 'kitchen sink' is a type of sink specifically designed for and located in a kitchen, often larger and deeper than a bathroom sink.