winner take all

[ win-er teyk awl ]

idiom

1. a situation or outcome in which the winner receives all the prizes or rewards (often used attributively):

   In some states, delegates are proportioned according to the vote, whereas in others the contests are winner take all.

   The qualifying tournament leaves little room for error, and once a team advances past group play, they face a must-win situation in a winner-take-all quarterfinal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of winner take all¹

First recorded in 1895–1900