Meaning & use
length and breadth
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
every part of a place or area, from one end to the other
Grammar: Used mainly in the pattern 'the length and breadth of + place'.
Patterns
- the length and breadth of something
She traveled the length and breadth of Italy by train.
News of the scandal spread throughout the length and breadth of the country.
He searched the length and breadth of the city for the missing painting.
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
the full extent or range of something, including all its parts
Grammar: Used figuratively, often with abstract nouns like 'knowledge' or 'experience'.
Patterns
- the length and breadth of something
Her knowledge of the length and breadth of the subject impressed the committee.
The course covers the length and breadth of modern European history.
Common combinations
- travel the length and breadth of
- They traveled the length and breadth of the country in a van.
- search the length and breadth of
- Rescue teams searched the length and breadth of the forest.
- the length and breadth of the land
- The story was known throughout the length and breadth of the land.
- spread across the length and breadth of
- The rumor spread across the length and breadth of the office.
Synonyms and how they differ
- throughout
- A preposition meaning 'in every part of'; more neutral and common in everyday speech, while 'length and breadth' is more literary.
- all over
- Informal and conversational; use it in speech, but 'length and breadth' suits formal writing.
Commonly confused: length and breadth or length and width?
length and breadth vs length and width
These refer to measurements of an object (how long and how wide it is), not to covering every part of an area.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'length and breadth' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Length and breadth' means 'every part of a place', so exploring a city fits. The other options use it as literal measurements, which is not the idiomatic meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “length and breadth”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.