“Full bore” means to the fullest extent, completely, or with maximum power. It can be used as an adjective, adverb, or noun and is widely used in English. Its etymology comes from measuring the diameter of a cylinder and is synonymous with calibre in firearms. Its modern meaning denotes greater capacity for strength, power, or execution. Synonyms include full throttle, full speed, flat out, all out, and no holds barred.
The English saying, full bore, means to the fullest extent possible, as in “To win the war, every soldier had to fight at full load”. It also means doing something completely or completely, like, “It was a full investigation that used every detective in the police force.” Also, it can mean moving as fast as possible or with maximum power, as in an automobile traveling at maximum speed. Great strength or effectiveness is usually implied.
The expression can be used as an adjective, adverb or noun. In any case, its meaning reflects full capacity or power. It has traditionally been a British idiom but is now more widely used in English around the world. It is defined by most dictionaries.
The etymology of total passage can be traced back to its use as a measure of the diameter of a cylinder. This sense comes from the word to pierce, as in to bore, to drill, or to drill a hole. There has been some speculation that this use as a cylinder measurement could be attributed to engines or rifles first, but the consensus points in the direction of rifles.
In his reference to firearms, bore is synonymous with calibre; thus, a full barreled firearm is larger or loaded to its maximum capacity with gunpowder and ammunition. Such a weapon might have a wider barrel, larger bullets, and be more powerful than a small arms weapon. Here, the small hole is the opposite of the full hole; however, the evolution of petty boredom as an expression has taken a different route and has come to mean banal, insignificant or provincial. The two expressions are antonyms only when they refer specifically to weapons.
In the sense of measuring an engine’s cylinder, full bore refers to a fully open cylinder running on maximum fuel and moving at maximum speed, such as with an unthrottled carburetor. It can also refer to the piston diameter and bore of an engine for more horsepower. Both roots of the idiom lead to its modern meaning and usage, denoting greater capacity for strength, power, or execution.
Many of the synonyms of full bore are also idiomatic expressions. In reference to moving at top speed, these idioms include the following: full throttle, full speed, flat out, and all out. When referring to the maximum possible extent, or operating at full capacity, the idiom “no holds barred,” meaning no restrictions or limitations, is another synonym.
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