Roughly speaking
Example: Roughly speaking, the trip will take about three hours.
Definition
"Roughly speaking" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that a statement or estimate is not exact but approximate. It often precedes generalizations or summaries to signal that the information given should be understood as a broad or imprecise description rather than a precise fact.
Etymology
The phrase "roughly speaking" combines the adverb "roughly," meaning approximately or not precisely, with "speaking," derived from the verb "speak." Its origin lies in the natural tendency of English speakers to qualify statements that are not exact, signaling that what follows is an approximation. Did you know? The use of "roughly" in this context dates back to at least the 17th century.
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"Roughly speaking" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 130 commonly used expressions.
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