kitchen sink

¹

noun

1. the final item imaginable on any extensive list of usually disparate items:

   He packed everything for his trip except the kitchen sink.

kitchen-sink

²

[ kich-uhn-singk ]

adjective

1. marked by an indiscriminate and omnivorous use of elements:

   a kitchen-sink approach to moviemaking.

kitchen sink

noun

1. a sink in a kitchen for washing dishes, vegetables, etc
2. everything but the kitchen sink
   everything that can be conceived of
3. modifier denoting a type of drama or painting of the 1950s depicting the sordid aspects of domestic reality

Word History and Origins

Origin of kitchen sink¹

1870–75, for literal sense

Origin of kitchen sink²

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

She said her husband was standing in front of the kitchen sink.

From BBC

She said she saw her son take a kettle to the bathroom for water and had to remind him that they had a kitchen sink now.

From BBC

Scotland had thrown the kitchen sink, the contents of the living room and half a dozen wardrobes at them and they still did not break.

From BBC

“This is a desperate attempt by a losing campaign. She’s throwing everything at the wall, including the kitchen sink, to see what’s going to stick.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Carpenter added that the bill was "drawn without sufficient care" and had "a 'kitchen sink' approach", and included "over £120,000 of costs to which Mrs Rooney has no entitlement".

From BBC