Talk:to the max

RfV failed August 2013

The following information has failed Wiktionary's verification process.

Failure to be verified means that insufficient eligible citations of this usage have been found, and the entry therefore does not meet Wiktionary inclusion criteria at the present time. We have archived here the disputed information, the verification discussion, and any documentation gathered so far, pending further evidence.
Do not re-add this information to the article without also submitting proof that it meets Wiktionary's criteria for inclusion.

---

to the max

How can this be an adjective? Sure, it's used with adjectives ("angry to the max"), but only adverbially. Equinox ◑ 23:15, 6 December 2012 (UTC)

Fortunately we have the option of using the Prepositional phrase header, which allows for both kinds of use. It might be used as an adjective after a copula. "It was to the max." [ this] search suggests that I'm not just making this up, though the usage as adjective is not abundant. DCDuring TALK 00:16, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

How is this not SOP? --WikiTiki89 00:30, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

“to the max”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.. Even MWOnline (probably the strictest about phrase inclusion) has it. DCDuring TALK 16:02, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

That doesn't answer my question. --WikiTiki89 17:27, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

Wikitiki89, I can't see anything at to#Preposition to cover this, nor can I at to the. Mglovesfun (talk) 17:36, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

To me, the second sense is obviously an {{&lit}}-candidate because, as its definition points out, one can also say "to the maximum", and abbreviating "maximum" to "max" isn't unique to this phrase. It's the same sense of [[to]] as is used in "turn the dial to 10", "pushed to the limit", etc (probably "indicating destination: In the direction of, and arriving at" or a figurative counterpart of that which we may be missing), + [[the]] + [[max]]. I agree with WikiTiki that the first sense is SOP, too: that it can be used hyperbolically of something that is merely angry, cold etc "to a great degree or extent" rather than to the literal max is the flimsiest of arguments for keeping it. (Actually, it isn't the absolute flimsiest, I'm being hyperbolic. Should we add a sense to [[flimsiest]]? I vote "no".) - -sche (discuss) 19:50, 7 December 2012 (UTC)

@MG: For to MWOnline has: "used as a function word (1) to indicate the extent or degree (as of completeness or accuracy) <loyal to a man> <generous to a fault> or the extent and result (as of an action or a condition) <beaten to death>"

@-sche: I would defer to the lemmings and keep this as a prepositional phrase when it is used as an intensifier. But I have also added max#Noun, with two senses, one being "An extreme, a great extent", which fits this and exists apart from this phrase. "To the max" as an intensifier is characteristic of California teenspeak and spread nationwide among some of the young. It is used where the idea of a gauge or control seems too remote to be even metaphorical. That Wiktionary at least considers such an entry is totally rad to the max. DCDuring TALK 00:33, 8 December 2012 (UTC)

• Failed uncited. Adverb header changed to Prepositional phrase. DCDuring TALK 22:50, 1 August 2013 (UTC)