On the whole
Example: On the whole, the trip was fun and exciting.
Definition
"On the whole" is an expression used to indicate that something is considered in general or overall, taking all parts or aspects into account. For example, "On the whole, the trip was fun and exciting" means that generally, the trip was enjoyable despite any minor issues.
Etymology
The phrase "on the whole" originates from the idea of considering something as a complete entity or entirety. "Whole" comes from Old English "hāl," meaning sound or entire. The expression evolved to mean looking at the full picture rather than focusing on individual parts.
Learn to use this expression actively
"On the whole" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B2) - set 1", containing 103 commonly used expressions.
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