full monty

English

Etymology

Unknown. First appeared in print in 1980s, but probably existed before that. The most common theory for its origin is that a purchase (especially that of a full three-piece suit) from Montague Maurice Burton (1885–1952), founder of Burton Menswear, was known as a "full Monty". According to the OED, this etymology is "perhaps the most plausible". The nudity definition comes via the movie The Full Monty, in which it is used as a euphemism for removing all one's clothes when stripping.

Noun

full monty (countable and uncountable, plural full monties)

1. (British, colloquial, countable) Everything; the whole package.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:everything

   I thought he was only going to buy the basic kit, but he bought the full monty.

2. (British, colloquial) Nudity.
   • 2002, Gene Amole, The Last Chapter: Gene Amole on Dying, Big Earth Publishing, →ISBN, page 153:

     It is just as well the letter was tightly sealed, because there were photographs in it showing me and others in Full Monty. That is to say we were all buck naked.

Usage notes

• Usually with the.

Adjective

full monty (not comparable)

1. (British, colloquial) Nude.
   • 2008, George McClendon, Heaven's Call to Earthy Spirituality, Dog Ear Publishing, →ISBN, page 63:

     Becoming male strippers and appearing full monty provides the connection.

   • 2009, Sandra Hill, Viking Heat, Penguin, →ISBN:

     Her breasts were always a surprise to men the first time she went full monty. Because she was so tall and slim and athletic, they probably expected pancakes.

   • 2012, Eric Jerome Dickey, An Accidental Affair, Penguin, →ISBN:

     “And she went full monty on film and everything has gone pear shaped for her.”

References

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Full monty”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.