all over the place

• Audio (General Australian):

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all over the place

1. (idiomatic) In multiple directions or locations, often haphazardly; everywhere.

   Synonym: scattershot

   They started firing all over the place.

   In Genoa there are stray cats all over the place.

   I've been looking for you all over the place.

   • 2004, Ruth Ozeki, All Over Creation, Penguin, →ISBN, page 267:

     I couldn't believe it. “This is insane! You don't know what you're getting into, Dad. We can't have lots of people swarming all over the place. You're supposed to be getting rest.”

2. (idiomatic) Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern; with a large amount of variation.

   Synonym: at random

   I asked each person in turn, and their answers were all over the place.

   • 2023 December 1, Emma Sanders, “England 3-2 Netherlands”, in BBC Sport‎^[1]:

     England were all over the place for the majority of the opening 45 minutes as gaps broke in defence.

• (everywhere): all over hell's half acre; all over the shop; all over the gaff; all over the map; all over the board; here, there and everywhere; up hill and down dale