The phrase "whole nine yards" originated in the United States in the 1960s and later gained popularity worldwide. It means to go all-in, to do everything possible for something or someone. However, when looking for antonyms to the phrase "whole nine yards," we can think of words such as partial, incomplete, limited, or insufficient. If someone says they are not giving the whole nine yards, it means they are not fully invested or dedicated to the task at hand. Instead, they may only be providing a portion or fraction of what is needed to achieve the desired outcome.