all over the map

Meanings

prepositional phrase

idiomaticWidely scattered or distributed; numerous and differing greatly.
The reactions were swift, impassioned and all over the map.
2008 August 9, “A Financial Earthquake”, in Newsweek
2 more examples
The Kip Hanrahan Band, which opened the concert, is after its own ambitious American-Latin fusion, with internationalist rhythms, introspective lyrics and musicians from all over the map.
1985 October 28, Jon Pareles, “Music: Ruben Blades's Salsa”, in New York Times
Prices are even more all over the map than usual here; I've seen them range from just $36 all the way up to $160...
2009, Pauline Frommer, Pauline Frommer's Las Vegas, →ISBN, page 58
idiomaticIn widely scattered directions; in a widely varying manner.
“I hit it all over the map,” Anderson joked.
2008 August 13, Scott Petrak, “Browns notes: PGA contender”, in The Chronicle, Ohio: Telegram, retrieved 13 Aug 2008

Also see

Cite this entry

APA

all over the map. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all%20over%20the%20map

MLA

“all over the map.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all%20over%20the%20map. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “all over the map,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/all%20over%20the%20map.