By and large
Example: By and large, the movie was very entertaining and fun.
Definition
"By and large" is an idiomatic expression used to indicate a generalization or overall assessment, meaning 'on the whole' or 'in general.' It suggests considering all factors or aspects before reaching a conclusion, as in 'By and large, the movie was very entertaining and fun.'
Etymology
The phrase "by and large" comes from nautical terminology in the 17th century. 'By' referred to sailing close to the wind, while 'large' meant sailing with the wind on the quarter. Together, it meant a ship that could sail well in most wind conditions. Over time, it evolved to mean 'generally' or 'on the whole.' Did you know sailors used this phrase to describe versatility on the seas?
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"By and large" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B1) - set 1", containing 123 commonly used expressions.
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