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all the rage

all the rage

24 5.5
Very popular and fashionable at a certain time
  • idiom
translation icon : estar de moda
  • Murals were all the rage in the glory days of Old Havana.

And as you know, mini brains are now all the rage in some areas.

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Examples

  • Hard-boiled private eyes were all the rage in the '50s.

  • They're all the rage these days, you know.

  • Black lights were all the rage back then.

  • It's all the rage, but... not everyone can do it.

  • It's all the rage these days.

  • The perfect example of this is when China was all the rage back in 2007.

    Blog text (1)
  • Action plans were all the rage several years ago.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Apparently this is all the rage in the Asian countries.

  • Henry: I'm told the play is all the rage in London.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Full suspension mountain bikes are all the rage today, attracting cyclists of all levels.

Synonyms

hot
vsall the rage
412 3.4

Very popular and wanted by many people

emphasizes being fashionable or trendy at a specific time
popular
vsall the rage
172 1.0

Music or art that many people enjoy

is general popularity or fashionability not limited to youth or art
fashionable
vsall the rage
85 2.6

Popular now because it follows the current style

carries a stronger sense of being extremely in demand at a time
trendy
vsall the rage
64 3.1

Very fashionable and popular now

is broader, stressing overall popularity rather than only up-to-dateness
in style
vsall the rage
51 2.9

Like what is fashionable now

highlights stronger, possibly short-lived popularity rather than mere style
in demand
vsall the rage
36 2.9

Wanted by many people

stresses being fashionable or stylish at a particular time
in fashion
vsall the rage
27 2.6

Popular and seen as stylish now

focuses more on wide popularity rather than only style conformity
in vogue
vsall the rage
10 3.8

Fashionable and popular now

expresses the same present popularity but with broader public appeal
on trend
vsall the rage
3 3.7

Fashionable and popular right now

is more about strong, widespread popularity at a given moment
in
vsall the rage
1 2.5

Popular now with many people

adds stronger sense of sudden or intense popularity at that time
faddish
vsall the rage
1 7.4

Popular for a short time because of a passing trend

is similar in being fashionable but not necessarily short-lived
superhot
vsall the rage
  • Informal
1 4.6

Very popular and wanted by many people

focuses on being fashionable or popular at a particular time
ultra-fashionable
vsall the rage
4.4

Very stylish and popular with people who follow new fashions

is widely popular across people at a particular time
faddy
vsall the rage
7.7

Fashionable for a short time like a passing trend

denotes strong popularity at a time without implying brief duration

Antonyms

121 2.1

Most people do not like someone or something

Not popular or stylish now

How Popular

all the rage
24 5.5
popular
1.0
trendy
64 3.1
in style
51 2.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

all + the + rage

The meaning is directly built from 'all' (completely) + 'the rage' (a current craze/fad), so 'all the rage' straightforwardly means 'completely fashionable' or 'extremely popular'. Given the provided constituent definition of 'rage' as 'a fad or craze', the phrase is compositionally transparent and predictable for a B1 learner who knows those words.

Etymology

The idiom all the rage comes from an older use of rage to mean a strong craze or excitement. One popular story says that if something was the 'rage' many people were excited about it, so when it was all the rage everyone wanted it, and that's why it means 'extremely popular'.