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Reader question: Please explain “no stone unturned” in this: They did everything, leaving no stone unturned. My comments: Well, first, consider this multiple choice quiz from EnglishClub.com: Henry said he’d leave no stone unturned in his search for a woman to marry. He will a) look for women under stones b) try everything to find a wife c) marry any woman who accepts him What’s your pick? Yes, “b” is the correct answer. Henry just wants to be exhaustive in his search. He won’t be looking underneath stones but he may go on television. Anyways, whenever people say they’d leave no stone unturned in doing something, they’re merely saying they’ll work hard, take no chances and try all measures in order to achieve their goal. “To leave no stone unturned” simply means to be exhaustive in efforts. The idiom originates in Greek mythology. This explanation, from Hindu.com (May 2, 2005): In 477 B.C., General Polycrates defeated General Mardonius in a battle. According to rumours, the Persian general, Mardonius had a lot of treasure hidden under his tent. But when Polycrates and his men searched the tent, they found nothing. The disappointed General went to an oracle in Delphi and told him his problem. The oracle instructed him to return to the place where the battle had been fought and to look under every stone for the treasure; he asked him to leave no stone unturned. Polycrates went back and searched under the stones, and sure enough he found the treasure. | 
