After all
Example: I decided to go to the park after all.
Definition
"After all" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate a conclusion or reason that supports a previous statement or decision, often suggesting reconsideration or confirmation, as in the sentence: I decided to go to the park after all.
Etymology
The phrase "after all" originates from Middle English, combining 'after' meaning 'following in time or order' and 'all' meaning 'everything' or 'the whole amount.' Over time, it developed into a fixed expression used to emphasize a final outcome or reasoning. Did you know it's often used to soften a statement or justify a change of mind?
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"After all" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A1) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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