über alles
intjEtymology From the verse Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, über alles in der Welt (“Germany, Germany above all, above all in the world”), from the German national anthem Lied der Deutschen, composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797. The verse originally meant that the Germans and their rulers have to overcome existing divisions and keep in mind the goal of a unified Germany.
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Humorous, Ironic, Usually, Used after a country name Invokes a perception of the specified country as superior to others, or having a supreme status when compared to others.
- Similarly, British Finance Capitalism forced back to its last line of defence will cry: "Britain über alles" though for the moment, Socialism having neglected Scottish Nationalism [..]1967, Hugh MacDiarmid, The Company I've Kept, page 132:
- Pax Americana and all that bullshit? Grissom said. 'America über alles. You want to make the rest of the world our slaves.'2008, Mike Hockney, Prohibition A, page 45: