All Walks of Life – Meaning and Examples
Who uses the public library? You will see students, retirees, professionals, and parents. People from all walks of life go there. This common idiom describes a diverse group of people from different social, economic, and professional backgrounds. Learning all walks of life will help you talk about diversity and inclusion.
What Does “All Walks of Life” Mean?
“All walks of life” means people of all types of jobs, social classes, lifestyles, and backgrounds. It emphasizes variety and inclusivity.
Think of it like this: A “walk of life” is a path someone takes through life—their job, their community, their experiences. When we talk about all walks of life, we mean every possible path.
Remember, it is always plural. We say “walks,” not “walk,” of life.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom to describe diverse groups of people in many situations.
- Community Events: “The festival attracted people from all walks of life.”
- Workplaces: “Our company hires talented individuals from all walks of life.”
- Shared Experiences: “The disease can affect people from all walks of life.”
The tone is neutral, positive, and inclusive. It is common in both informal and formal speech.
Example Sentences
- The charity helps children from all walks of life.
- In a big city, you meet people from all walks of life.
- The new policy will impact citizens from all walks of life.
- Volunteers from all walks of life came together to clean up the park.
Mini Dialogue
Teacher: “For our class project, we will interview people from different jobs.”
Student: “So we need to talk to people from all walks of life?”
Teacher: “Exactly! From artists to engineers, all walks of life.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is using the singular form. The idiom is always “walks,” not “walk,” of life.
❌ Don’t say: “He meets every walk of life in his job.”
✅ Do say: “He meets people from all walks of life in his job.”
Practice Tip
Look at a crowd the next time you are in a public place. Think, “People from all walks of life are here.” This will help you connect the phrase to real life.
Final Note
This is a beautiful and inclusive idiom. It helps us recognize and appreciate the diversity in our communities. Use it to talk about the wonderful variety of people in the world!
