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3. all there

all there

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all there

Having all of one's wits, intelligence, or mental competence intact, usually used in the negative to question whether or not that is actually the case. He says he knows where we're going, but I'm not sure he's really all there. My mom likes to act like she's not all there sometimes, but she's actually incredibly witty.

See also: all

all there

Fig. alert, aware, and mentally sound. (Usually negative.) After talking with Larry today, I get the feeling that he's not quite all there. You do such foolish things sometimes! I wonder if you're all there.

See also: all

all there

Having one's wits about one, mentally competent, as in John may seem absentminded, but believe me, he's all there. This phrase is often used negatively, as not all there, for being without one's full faculties. For example, I wonder about Justin; sometimes it seems as if he's not all there. [Mid-1800s]

See also: all

all there

Mentally unimpaired or competent.

See also: all