Every nook and cranny

Every nook and cranny is an idiom that dates back to medieval times. We will examine the meaning of the idiom every nook and cranny, where it came from, and some examples of its use in sentences.

Every nook and cranny is an idiom that means everywhere, in all possible places, in every part and every area. The expression every nook and cranny is sometimes used to convey that something was done thoroughly or that someone understands something thoroughly. The idiom every nook and cranny has been in use since the 1400s. Here, nook means a tiny, hidden place. Cranny means a crevice or small crack.

Examples

Between nights of Cup of Noodles and days filled with any free food found in every nook and cranny on campus, we’re surviving. (The Daily Utah Chronicle)

“The university has known for a long time that our growing program is making use of every nook and cranny that we have and we’re grateful for it,” Richmond said. (The North Texas Daily)

Today it feels so much brighter and more positive, a breath of fresh air wafting through and brightening every nook and cranny, and I no longer feel the intense anger of the time, just an immense, unhealing bruise of sadness. (The Daily Mail)

Monitoring technology has worked its way into every nook and cranny of low-wage jobs, and the feeling that you always have somebody standing behind you with a stopwatch is really different. (Publishers WEekly)