The phrase "the mother of all" is a colloquial expression used to emphasize the extreme or ultimate nature of something. It originated from the Gulf War in the early 1990s, when Saddam Hussein referred to the coming conflict as the "mother of all battles." Since then, the expression has been adapted and used more broadly in English. Here are a few examples of how it can be used: The mother of all storms: Referring to an extremely powerful and destructive storm. The mother of all surprises: Describing a surprising event that is exceptionally significant or unexpected. The mother of all headaches: Expressing an extremely intense or severe headache. The mother of all parties: Signifying an epic or grandiose party. The phrase is indeed commonly used in English-speaking countries, and it adds a dramatic and hyperbolic flair to whatever it is describing. Keep in mind that it's an informal expression and is often used in a humorous or exaggerated manner.

Its use precedes the Gulf War but did increase then, according to ngrams. It’s rare. It’s a cleaner version of a similar-meaning profane expression also using ‘mother’.