By all means
Example: You can by all means join us for dinner tonight.
Definition
"By all means" is an expression used to give enthusiastic permission or encouragement, indicating that someone is completely allowed or invited to do something without hesitation or restriction. For example, "You can by all means join us for dinner tonight" means you are warmly welcome to participate.
Etymology
The phrase "by all means" originated in English and combines "by," indicating the method or cause, with "all means," meaning every possible way or method. It has been used since the 16th century to convey agreement or permission emphatically. Did you know? It's a polite and emphatic way to say 'certainly' or 'definitely.'
Learn to use this expression actively
"By all means" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 130 commonly used expressions.
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