Green’s Dictionary of Slang

all the world and his wife n.

absolutely everyone.

1738		Swift Polite Conversation 85: miss.: Pray, Madam, who were the Company? lady sm.: Why; there was the World and his Wife.
1766		New Bath Guide Letter xiii n.p.: How he welcomes at once all the world and his wife, And how civil to folk he ne’er saw in his life [F&H].
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn).
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1843		T. Haliburton Sam Slick in England II 34: Queen was there then; and where she is, of course all the world and its wife is too.
1852		Bristol Times & Mirror 5 June 2/4: Why, I declare there’s Mr Jones a walking arm in arm with — all the world and his wife — now you wos a winking at my ’usband, you ’ussy.
1857		Hereford Jrnl 10 June 7/1: The spring is inviting all the world and his wife [...] to walk abroad for recreation.
1865		Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1994) 208: All the world and his wife and daughter leave cards.
1868		H.L. Williams Three Black Smiths in Darkey Drama 4 27: All de world and his wife flock to see Mr. Gilligan’s great circus.
1871		Western Times 25 Apr. 5/3: The International Exhibition is to be opened [...] on May-day, and all the world and his wife are invited to attend.
1883		G.R. Sims How the Poor Live 81: All the world and his wife are out to-night.
1889		Western Times 23 Oct. 3/2: All the world and his wife are going out of town to renew their youth and vigour at the seaside.
1891		Bucks Herald 29 Aug. 8/1: All the world and his wife are on the wing, but from every health resort comes the same [...] complaint as to the weather.
1900		Sporting Times 21 Apr. 1/2: Mrs. Grundy remarks [...] That the world and a wife; but that wife not its own / Always goes on these national holidays.
1913		Keowee Courier (Pickens Court Hse, SC) 30 Dec. 7/5: There is reason to believe that all the world and his dog will drink more booze this winter.
1914		Dly Mirror 13 Apr. 4/4: April is all smiles [...] and yesterday ‘all the world and his wife’ seemed to be seeking freshair and sunshine.
1917		Eve. Public Ledger (Phila., PA) 1 Nov. 13/2: [headline] All The World And His Dog Are Going A-Gunning Today After Rabbits.
1921		Burnley Exp. 23 Apr. 11/3: [advert] All ther World and His Wife find Mustavit Ointment cheap to buy, harmless to try.
1928		Hull Dly Mail 25 Sept. 4/6: Have all the world and his wife been [...] to see the dahlias?
1936		Western Times 24 Dec. 8/1: Gifts for All the World and His Wife.
1947		S.J. Perelman Westward Ha! 138: All the world and his wife had their noses plunged in some form of popsicle or candied apple.
c.1955		B. Behan Dublin Man (1997) 53: Besides, the world and Garrett Reilly has learned from Sunday reading that the least offensive of the Edwardian armoury includes a bicycle chain.
1985		M. Johnston Around the Banks of Pimlico 94: I had never been to a party in my life and so I was quite excited. The world and Garrett Reilly were there .
2018		J.-P. Jordan Joys of War 89: The number of media journalists trying to catch a flight to Djerba in Tunisia near the north-east border with Libya. Every man and his dog!