Episode 303: Pull Out All the Stops

This week Shauna and Dan make every possible effort to explain Pull Out All the Stops. Bonus: Australian Football, Coughing instead of clapping, and playing the pipe organ while Rome burns

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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 303: Pull Out All the Stops
Record Date: January 10, 2026
Air Date: January 14, 2026

Intro

Shauna:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase. 

I’m Shauna Harrison

Dan:
And I’m Dan Pugh

Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.

Opening Hook
Have you ever been in a situation where everything is riding on the outcome? Maybe it was during a sports event, or a board game, or even a real-life emergency. But you knew, everything came down to how you managed this moment. And that’s when you pull out all the stops. 

Meaning
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to pull out all the stops means:

Quote
to make every possible effort
End Quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/stop_n2?tab=meaning_and_use#20416753 

It appears this phrase originates with the pipe organ. So first, a little about pipe organs and stops from Pipedreams, the nationally distributed weekly radio program exploring the art of the pipe organ.

Quote
Simply stated the pipe organ is a big box of whistles. Each pipe sits on top of a hollow wind chest that is filled with compressed air provided by a bellows or blower. Each ‘stop’ at the organ console represents a set of pipes (a rank) of a particular tone color, with a different pipe for every note on the keyboard. Pulling the stop activates a slider under that specific set of pipes on the windchest, making them available as a sound-source.
End Quote
https://www.pipedreams.org/page/how-a-pipe-organ-works 

So basically the stops block the air from getting into the pipe. And to pull out the stop is to allow air to get through, thus making a sound. So, if an organist pulls out all the stops, it allows all of the pipes to be used, resulting in a booming, unfiltered sound, leaving nothing left to be given at that moment. 

We’ll look at more about the history of the pipe organ with interesting and curious facts - like how Nero couldn’t have fiddled while Rome burned because the violin hadn’t been invented yet. But he did play the hydraulis, an early pipe organ. What a creepy thought to hear the ominous sounds of an organ playing while your city burned. Nero also played the lute before you get too far down that bunny trail, though scholars don’t think he was actually playing anything when Rome burned. Anyway, you’ll get things like that and more about the actual pipe organ in our behind the scenes video, which airs every Friday on our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod. 

1842
For now, let’s look at the phrase. Here’s an example of it being used in a literal sense. This comes from an article in the Kentish Gazette out of England dated 13 December 1842. The organist in question is not named in the article. It seems as though anyone of the day would have known who the article was talking about. Which was probably fine in 1842, but isn’t helping us some 175 years later. 

Quote
The people run to hear his performance; and as decorum forbids those demonstrations of applause in the church which are common at a play or concert, the Parisians have invented a new method of signifying their approbation - they cough with all their might; and it is the greatest honour for the organist if he be coughed at by the whole congregation. To obtain this distinction he exerts all his talents, and pulls out all the stops of the original so that during the Te Deum the assembly is entertained with a variety of charming sounds.
End Quote
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000235/18421213/026/0004

Well, that took a weird turn. Coughing? This feels like decorum gone wild. But I guess coughing is forcing air through a pipe, so maybe it is an appropriate approbation.  Still, we see the phrase being used in its pre-idiomatic form where the pipe organist wows the crowd with the booming, unfiltered sounds of all the stops pulled.

But moving to the figurative phrase, according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary:

Quote
The British poet and critic Matthew Arnold is believed to be the first to use some form of pull out the stops with a figurative application, comparing the potential of his countryman to a “narrow-toned” organ on which one is performing
End Quote
https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/pull-out-all-the-stops-phrase-history-pipe-organ 

1865
Here is the quote in question from Essays in criticism: First and second series complete by Matthew Arnold dated 1865. The work is available through the digitization work of Project Gutenburg:

Quote
Proud as I am of my connection with the University of Oxford, I can truly say, that knowing how unpopular a task one is undertaking when one tries to pull out a few more stops in that powerful but at present somewhat narrow-toned organ, the modern Englishman, I have always sought to stand by myself, and to compromise others as little as possible. 
End Quote
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77244 

This is an interesting take, in which he notes the modern Englishman, at least in 1865, was reserved in many ways. And as he himself tries to not impose on others, so his fellow countrymen do as well. So trying to get them to go all out, even at the expense of others, was simply not part of the British makeup at the time. 

1879
Here’s one delivered in a sermon on April 13, 1879 by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. It captures that same British makeup that Mr. Arnold was commenting on:

Quote
Your soul says, “Speak,” and if etiquette says, “Hush, they will think you a fanatic,” regard it not, but speak aloud, and let them think you a fanatic if they please. Sir, play the organ very softly when the subject is your own praise; but when you come to the praises of God, pull out all the stops; thunders of music are all too little for his infinite deservings.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Metropolitan_Tabernacle_Pulpit/NH4PAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22pull+out+all+the+stops%22&pg=RA2-PA214&printsec=frontcover 

1903
This next one is a book review of The Rose of Joy by Mary Findlater released in 1903. The review was printed in the Literary Digest dated December 19, 1903. The author of the review is not mentioned. 

Quote
In only one place does she “let go of herself,” and the passage proves that the author knows how to “pull out all the stops” when art demands a blare of emotional accent.
End Quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Literary_Digest_a_Repository_of_Contempo/XQY8AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22pull+out+all+the+stops%22&pg=PA877&printsec=frontcover 

1938
This next one is from a sports writer named Henry McLemore. It was published in the Washington Daily News out of Washington DC, USA July 22, 1938. Henry is frustrated at Lou Gehrig’s run of baseball games that earned him the nickname “The Iron Horse”. At the time, Gehrig was up to 2,045 straight games without missing one. His record would end at 2,130 games and would stand for 56 years until Cal Ripken Jr surpassed it in 1995. The criticism was probably less contentious at the time. Though the lens of history showed us that Gehrig died at the age of 37 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often shortened to ALS and sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Which means the criticism hits a little different. Here is an excerpt from the column:

Quote
To come right out and say so, I consider Gehrig’s insistence on playing even when he has fractured bones (such as he now has), concussions, fever, and the all-around miseries, as abnormal and none too flattering.  Usually it is the dumb or the desperate who continue to carry on while in pain. The human thing to do when you’re hurt is to take it easy, not pull out all the stops marked “heroic”. This is especially true when all your heroics will get you is a gold watch and the sobriquet “iron horse”.
End Quote 
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82016181/1938-07-22/ed-1/?sp=22&q=pull+out+all+the+stops&r=0.239,0.603,1.058,0.403,0 

A sobriquet, which I had to look up, is an affectionate or humorous nickname. Now, on the whole, I think I agree with Henry McLemore here, but my opinion is not relevant as to whether someone else plays through pain to cement their name in history. And if you had a crystal ball to predict your future, I think many people might do something to have their name live on in perpetuity for something they did through perseverance. So while I understand and empathize with Mr. McLemore for me personally, I wouldn’t deign to judge Lou Gehrig for his decisions in pulling out all the stops for the sport, and job, that he loved. 

1955
Next up is an example from The Argus out of Melbourne, Australia dated June 6, 1955. This is about the Australian football rules team Moorabbin Football Club which ran from 1909 to 1963. There was another, more popular club of the same name that ran from 1970 to 1987, but that is a different iteration than this team. In this article, the “Kangas” were playing a team they definitely should have beat, but were struggling. Here’s the line:

Quote
Moorabbin, apparently relaxing after four hard games, had to “pull out all the stops” to avert a shock defeat by second-last Chamberwell.
End Quote
https://newspaperarchive.com/melbourne-argus-jun-06-1955-p-18/

We’ve probably all seen this type of example in sport, where a team that is objectively better is struggling against a team that is objectively worse. And so it was with the Kangas, who had to really remove all the barriers and leave nothing left in the tank to defeat this not-very-good Chamberwell team. 

1961
This next one is an article in the Evening Star out of Washington DC, USA. This is by Josephine Gichner, talking about the difficulty of selling her house while her daughter comes down with mumps. 

Quote
The pressure was on us. In just 30 days we had to settle on our new home and still no buyer for the old one. 
We were about to pull out all the stops for the final, no-offer-refused open house Sunday, when Diane chose to puff out under the ears.
End Quote
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83045462/1961-04-21/ed-1/?sp=72&q=pull+out+all+the+stops&r=-0.119,0.406,0.92,0.351,0

Josephine did the right thing and notified the realtors about her daughter’s condition, and one older lady did show up to visit the kid and ended up buying the house. But her use of the phrase is consistent with the idea of removing all barriers or going all out to make something happen.

Up next we have several modern uses to cover and we’ll get to those, right after we say thank you to those who make the show possible. 

A Quick Thank You
Shauna:
This episode is brought to you by our amazing Patrons on Patreon. 
And it is 100% free to join the Bunny Trails community! 
So give our weekly discussions and poll questions a try. 
And if you love the content and want more of it, 
we have some paid tiers, too, if you have a few dollars to spare each month and want to support the show. 

Dan:
We have new things every weekday on the feeds. In addition to the conversation about what movies, shows, books, and podcasts everyone is enjoying and our weekly poll questions, we also have early access to the week's podcast, all the links, books, songs, and other content mentioned in the week's episode, and our lightly-edited behind the scenes video featuring all the cut content, goofs, and bonus facts that didn’t make it into the podcast feed.

Shauna:
We’ve also got Original Digital Artwork every month, made by ME,
and direct access to talk with us. 
No nefarious social media algorithms getting in the way of what we see or don’t see. 
Plus, you can get awesome name recognition like Pat Rowe and JGP do every episode. 
And our top spot is currently occupied by the amazing Mary Halsig Lopez.

You can join the Bunny Trails community for free at bunny trails pod on Patreon. 

That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod 


Modern Uses

1972
We’ll start in 1972 with the album Pull Out All the Stops by the band It Flew Away. This Australian band performed psychedelic and progressive rock. I listened to the last song on the album, Pull Out All the Stops Mother. It was over 15 minutes long and was more like a psychedelic thriller movie soundtrack than a releasable song. There were a few words in the middle of the track, but most of it was instrumental with some vocalizations during parts of the song. If that appeals to you, then you should check it out. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNCckuWyZSA 

1996
Pulling Out all the Stops: The pipe organ in America is a 1996 documentary featuring the rise of the pipe organ in American history. The full movie is available on youtube, and here is the synopsis from there:

Quote
Pulling Out All the Stops honors the pipe organ in America. From New York's Fifth Avenue to Harlem, from Hollywood to a small town in North Carolina, this film shows how the pipe organ plays a role in people's lives today. Special highlights include: a Halloween concert; an evening of silent film comedy brought to life with the "Mighty Wurlitzer"; the moving story of a congregation's nine-year dream - and the factory that made that dream come true; and a special tour for young people inside a three-story tall organ. Most of all, Pulling Out All the Stops celebrates the widely differing communities of people who love and cherish this instrument.
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VBQtzIM4c8 

This really captures how the rise of the pipe organ really used all the abilities at its disposal to become one of the most iconic instruments in sacred institutions from weddings to funerals, and many religious events in between. 

2011
Pull Out All the Stops! by Geraldine McCaughrean is a 2011 novel, the second in the Cissy Sissney series. Here is the synopsis from the publisher:

Quote
There isn't much drama in Olive Town. The highlights of Cissy Sissney's days are the letters from her old schoolteacher, Miss Loucien, describing her adventures on board an old showboat with the Bright Lights Theatre Company. If only life were full of such adventure for Cissy, too. But then diphtheria breaks out in Olive Town, a silo crushes Cissy's home, and Miss May March agrees to take Cissy and classmates, Kookie and Tibbie, to stay with Miss Loucien until Olive town is safe again. The ramshackle crew on board the Sunshine Queen sail along the shoals and shimmer of the Numchuck River, performing plays for the towns scattered along the shore. But sometimes, on the treacherous Missouri River, danger levels rise too high even for the resourceful Bright Lights. Then only the bravest, and grandest, in the land can hope to keep the final curtain from falling. The award-winning author, Geraldine McCaughrean, captures the spirit of adventure and the power of imagination in this rip-roaring read.
End Quote
https://books.google.com/books/about/Pull_Out_All_the_Stops.html?id=wRvacQAACAAJ 

2018
Pull Out All The Stops is a single by The Night, off the 2018 album Question Everything. The Night is self-described as an indie, post-punk, folk rock, pop band from Sydney Australia. If you are a fan of Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, The Killers, Kings Of Leon, Brand New, or Manchester Orchestra, then you might like The Night. Here are some of the lyrics:

Quote
Pull out all the stops
Make sure every shot, counts
You always wanted fame
So take it by the reigns, now
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-gq0BST__A 

2020
‘Pull out all the stops,’:UN urges the world to fight virus is the headline title of an article from SFGate.com by Matt Sedensky and John Leicester. It was published on March 5, 2020 which was just a week or two before the United States started shutting things down. Here is the excerpt that led to that title:

Quote
“This is not a drill. This is not the time for giving up. This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a daily briefing in Geneva. “Countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades. Now is the time to act on those plans.”
End Quote
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Pull-out-all-the-stops-UN-urges-the-world-15109050.php 

This is a great usage of the phrase, because the World Health Organization was making the case that this new pandemic is a serious threat and we should use all of our resources to try to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

2024
Pull Out The Stops by Camino is an alt rock song released in 2024. According to their facebook page, Camino is a band from Essex, United Kingdom. Here are the opening lyrics:

Quote
Sleep tight, but in the night I can never dream
Outside, outsiders too
Ride on this serpentine
Leap of faith is all we need
I might be tired, I might be mindful of you
Now we’ve found the thing that I can’t do

Pull out the Stops
Pull out the Stops
I’m right here where I want to be when it drops
End Quote
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbmW_-Mk23o 

2025
Pulling All the Stops by Liam Heuser is a song released in 2025, though he posted an early version of his song on youtube in 2023. We’ll link to both the early version and the studio version. The song has a bit of a bluesy classic rock vibe, and I really enjoyed it. I’ll read from some of the lyrics, which sees the protagonist heading down main street:

Quote
It’s half past three
If I had it my way
I wouldn’t have to pay a fee
If she wanna see me
Well I’m not hard to reach
Then you oughta know
I’m pulling all the stops
End Quote
https://open.spotify.com/track/7dai3SFY8GtXj91SpdUxlY?si=5632a2b076914f57 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf5rZ6r-leU 

Wrap Up
I love the idea of going all in and making every possible effort to make something happen. And I love music. So learning that “pull out all the stops” came from a musical background was really cool. I don’t think I use the term often, but maybe I should get it in my rotation for when I’m trying my darndest to make something happen. I’m curious how many of you use this phrase day to day. Let us know on our Patreon. 

Dan:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, 
reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod or comment on our website bunnytrailspod.com

Shauna:
It’s poll time!

Recently we asked our Patrons, where do you put your dirty laundry?

The vast majority of you put it in a hamper in the bathroom or bedroom. 

But a small percentage of you said either: 
“They are really spread out all over the house wherever I took them off and I have to gather them to do laundry”
or 
“In a pile on the floor in my bedroom/bathroom”

Heather said:
Quote
Just a regular old hamper. I was considering getting one on wheels because of mobility issues, but geez those are expensive. But then I found a thing called a laundry turtle, you put it on top of the things in the dryer (once they're dry, obviously), spin the drum so that the clothes land on top of it, and then it basically becomes a mobile hamper where you can take everything out in one go. And yes I DID get overly excited about it, such that I'm telling everyone I can think of up to and including podcast audiences. Its the little things in life…
End Quote

And Dustin added:
Quote
Just got a new hamper for the bedroom. Jeez, is that what it is like to be an adult?
End Quote

Dan:
Ha! I think I realized I was an adult when I had dropped a piece of ice on the floor in the kitchen. And I had the thought, if I don’t pick that up it might melt and cause damage to my floor. So I picked it up. And as I tossed it into the sink, I suddenly thought exactly what Dustin said, “Is this what it feels like to be an adult?!”

But back to the question, I have a hamper in my bedroom where I put all my dirty clothes so they stay in a select location. Then I can take the hamper to the laundry and everything is well organized. Even when I stay in hotels, I keep my dirty clothes in a laundry bag so the room stays clean. I'm not a clean freak or anything, but I certainly dislike clutter. And clothes all over the place make a room feel cluttery to me. 

Shauna:
Most of my dirty clothes go into my laundry bin or in a pile on my bed… I’m not great at the organization on this one. If clothing didn’t matter so much, I’d be in jeans and a sweater or a sundress everyday. And then I wouldn’t need most of the clothes I own. 

If you want to take part in our silly polls, head over to the Patreon. We’d love to hear your take on our weekly poll questions! And it’s free at patreon.com/bunnytrailspod 

Outro 

Shauna:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember, 

Together:
Words belong to their users.