"Everything is ready" literally means that all matters have been properly prepared, describing a state in which all conditions, resources, and preparatory work are complete, with only the final action or key factor yet to come. This idiom originates from the story of the Battle of Red Cliffs in Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Zhou Yu was preparing a fire attack against Cao Cao, and everything was arranged, but he discovered that the wind direction was unfavorable. Only after Zhuge Liang "borrowed" the east wind did the plan succeed, giving rise to the saying "Everything is ready, all that is needed is the east wind." Therefore, this idiom is often used to emphasize that preparations are already very thorough, with only one decisive condition or opportunity missing. In terms of usage, it is mostly employed to describe the state before a project, event, or plan is about to launch, carrying a positive and anticipatory emotional tone, and sometimes also implying a longing for or concern about the final key factor. It should be noted that it is usually not used alone, but often paired with "all that is needed is the east wind" to highlight the final missing element.
📝 Example
1. The production line for the new product has been fully calibrated, and the market research is complete—everything is ready, and we are only waiting for the official launch next week.
2. For this trip, we have booked the flights and hotel and prepared a detailed itinerary—everything is ready, and all we need now is clear weather.