from stem to stern

Related to from stem to stern: come in handy, take account of, so much for, worse for wear, bevy of beauties, in droves, in line with

from stem to stern

Completely or entirely, as from one end to the other. The stem is the front part of a ship and the stern is the rear. If that guy so much as looks at me the wrong way, I'll cut him from stem to stern, I swear! When I had the flu, I honestly ached from stem to stern and couldn't get out of bed for days.
See also: stem, stern
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

from stem to stern

 
1. Lit. from the front of a boat or ship to the back. He inspected the boat from stem to stern and decided he wanted to buy it.
2. Fig. from one end to another. Now, I have to clean the house from stem to stern. I polished my car carefully from stem to stern.
See also: stem, stern
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

from stem to stern

from the front to the back, especially of a ship.
See also: stem, stern
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

from ˌstem to ˈstern

all the way from the front of a ship to the back: It was a small boat, less than thirty feet from stem to stern.
See also: stem, stern
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

from stem to stern

From one end to another.
See also: stem, stern
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

stem to stern, from

From beginning to end; entirely. In nautical terminology the stem is an upright at the bow (front) of a vessel and the stern is the back end. This counterpart of from head to toe and from soup to nuts was quoted by the Roman writer Cicero as a Greek proverb. In English the term was used literally from about 1600 on, and figuratively soon afterward.
See also: stem
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • stem
  • stem to stern, from
  • stern
  • stem to stern
  • be bringing up the rear
  • at the rear of
  • rear
  • rear end
  • aft
  • fore and aft
References in periodicals archive
"The event is always a tremendous success, because it covers everything from stem to stern," says Ellis.
Sweet harmonies translate to sales: hundreds of vendors gather to market books, CD's and other items to a captive audience of 15,000 at the world's largest gathering of gospel music participants
Conventional ships are designed for strength longitudinally, from stem to stern. The main stress on such a ship comes from cargo and the force of waves passing beneath the hull.
Making full speed: Remanufacturing gives an old vessel a new mission
Among the flimsy fibre-glass motor-cruisers that tend to ply the canals, Elisabeth is a bulbous and brightly decorated old girl with flower pots from stem to stern. She began life as a heavy-duty barge in Rotterdam Docks in the 1930s and became a hotel boat - 'peniche' is the local phrase - a few years ago.
Travel Style: Letting Life lap by in LUXURY
"We loaded her from stem to stern," said Fred Artis, Chief, Terminal Operations Division.
Multiple exercises challenge 835th Transportation Battalion. (Team Challenge 2001)
From stem to stern, around every corner lies a new adventure.
Finding Your Ideal Destination
How an 80/20 works, from stem to stern, is relatively technical.
80/20 program to benefit low-income, developers
The stores, which had been operated as Drug Emporium franchises prior to the July 1998 deal, are being remerchandised "from stem to stern," Roath said.
Longs outlines strategy to stay on growth track
The 47-foot research vessel is packed with electronics from stem to stern, including side-scan sonar for probing the lake bed and Global Positioning System equipment for pinpointing the location of wrecks.
Freshwater finds: inland waters yield a trove of artifacts, history, and mystery
It was just like a movie: a luxury yacht ablaze from stem to stern, a wealthy industrialist, his wife and their daughter and the crew in peril as their boat went down.
Village's pounds 1 'circle of love' will save little Rebecca from a fall
As is his line of work every two years, Walter traveled the country last fall from stem to stern.
Why so many missed the takeover
At less than one year of age, this impressive ship still had that new car smell and was squeaky clean from stem to stern.
On target: a variety of options exist for replacing Canada's joint support ships
South Pasadena, CA, December 03, 2013 --(PR.com)-- X-Treme designers have come up with the XB-300SLA Electric Mountain Bike, engineered from stem to stern with quality in mind, all at an extremely attractive and affordable price.
X-Treme XB-300SLA Electric Mountain Bike is a New Entry Level Option from UrbanScooters.com
"Waves were breaking right over her from stem to stern. It would have been impossible for anyone on the Union Star to go on deck to make a line fast," he said.
RETRO REPORT; Salvage tug skipper tells of captain's temper
Michael said: "The bear showed intense curiosity as she went from stem to stern of the ship, returning to the bow to stand up against the hull itself.
HEY PAL! SHIFT YOUR BOAT! CURIOUS POLAR BEAR'S ENCOUNTER
Reville, who lives in Worcester, said education needs an overhaul "from stem to stern" and hopes teachers will help by challenging their working conditions.
`Tough' teaching climate out there; Education head urges teachers to pursue better working conditions