Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a foregone conclusion; often preceded by it’s…; one-off vars. are also found, e.g. cits. 1902, 1905, 1997.

1842		C.J. Apperley Life of a Sportsman 332: It’s all over but shouting [...] Antonio’s as dead as a hammer .
1850		Morn. Advertiser (London) 9 Apr. 4/5: Many of these ‘all over but shouting’ affairs come off, in slang parlance, ‘all over the left’.
1857		Bell’s Life in Victoria (Melbourne) 10 Oct. 3/3: Tho Jockey Club Derby [...] was considered ‘all over, except the shouting’.
1874		‘Old Calabar’ Won in a Canter II 280: ‘Now if Mr. Charles was fit and well [...] it would be all up but shouting’.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Mar. 14/1: If times go for anything, the Sir. Joseph Banks’ handicap is ‘all over, but shouting.’ T. Budd (11 yards) ran the fifth heat in the stated time of 14 seconds. Boo hoo to you!
1891		Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette 20 Mar. n.p.: At Barnes it was estimated that he had a lead of 150 yards, and at this point [...] it looked all over but the shouting [F&H].
1894		Truth (Sydney) 15 Apr. 4/8: Put it there, Mr Rayle Straddler! Consider the campaign all over bar the ‘shouting’.
1900		Sporting Times 26 May 1/1: The siege of Mafeking was all over bar the shouting on Friday week. The shouting isn’t over yet.
1902		E. Townsend Chimmie Fadden and Mr Paul 49: It was all over but de picture and de coitain.
1903		A.H. Lewis Boss 147: It’s all over but th’ yellin’!
1905		Sporting Times 8 Apr. 2/4: Full in the stupid and boyish conceit that it was all over bar a little digging.
1908		Sun. Times (Perth) 29 Nov. 4/7: The race was all over bar the usual ’ooting.
1914		R. Lardner ‘Horseshoes’ in Coll. Short Stories (1941) 263: ‘It’s all over bar the shoutin’!’ says Davis on the bench.
1918		letter in M. Baldwin Canteening Overseas (1920) 165: I couldn’t go back till ‘it’s all over but the shouting’.
1929		R.H.H. Nichols ‘Sinbad the Sailor’ in Fight Stories Jan. 🌐 He knew it was all over but the shouting.
1944		W. Blair Tall Tale America 40: ‘It’s all over but the shooting,’ Mike said.
1951		D. Stivens Jimmy Brockett 95: Just as I thought, it was all over bar the shouting.
1954		Wodehouse Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit 72: Then I would say that the thing was in the bag. All over but the cheering.
1966		F. Elli Riot (1967) 210: Ain’tcha heard? It’s all over but the shoutin’.
1967		J. Hibberd White with Wire Wheels (1973) 225: It’s all over bar the shouting as far as I’m concerned.
1969		A. Buzo Norm and Ahmed (1973) 12: I always played fair, but if they ever mucked me about, biff! Send for the cleaners. All over bar the shouting.
1971		F.J. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah (1975) 172: It was all over bar the shouting, but they wrangled on until late afternoon.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 268: But Nifty Nev Sellwood thought it was all over bar the shouting and eased up.
1997		E. Little Another Day in Paradise 190: That’s it, kid, all over but the crying.
2002		C. St. J. Wilson Windsor Knot 167: In Fleet Street [...] the marriage was all over, bar the shouting.
2014		M. McBride Swollen Red Sun 130: And we don’t do somethin’ [...] then we’s all fucked, and it’ll all be over but the cryin’’.