With all in toll

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Maybo

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Feb 23, 2017
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Chinese
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IMG_4483.jpeg
A instagram post uploaded by yogachung

What does “with all in toll” mean?
 
It's a typo (or the writer doesn't actually know the real phrase). It should say "with all in tow". They're referring to the fact that this year a couple of people missed it (Papa and Isabella) so they're hoping that next year everyone will make it. We use "in tow" to mean "with us". Considering the writer barely used any punctuation, messed up the ellipsis, wrote "too" instead of "to", and omitted the apostrophe from "year's", it wouldn't surprise me if they simply don't know how to say/write the correct phrase.

I'm coming to your party but be warned I'll have my cousin in tow.
When she goes to the supermarket, she has eight kids in tow. It's chaos.
The doctor is doing his rounds with four medical students in tow. They're going to learn a lot.
 
I hope you noticed very many more mistakes in that quote, @Maybo.

Don't expect Instagram posts to be written in impeccable English.
 
As you know now - it isn't.
 
I've always considered 'in tow' to have at least a slightly negative connotation - it suggests extra effort to lug around some extra (proverbial) baggage.

Depending on context, it can be quite negative, but it always suggests at least some extra effort. At the very least, it suggests the burden of leadership or responsibility.

Sometimes that sense of effort is used for humorous intent. Presumably that's what yogachung was attempting. At least that's how I'd have read it if used correctly.
 
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