by and large

British  

adverb

1. in general; on the whole

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by and large Idioms  

1. For the most part, generally speaking, as in By and large the novel was a success. This expression originated in 17th-century seamanship, where it referred to sailing into the wind and then off it, which made it easier to steer. By the early 1700s the term had been broadened to mean “in one direction and another,” whence its present meaning of “in general.” For a synonym, see for the most part.

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Etymology

Origin of by and large

C17: originally nautical (meaning: to the wind and off it)

Example Sentences

Boston said she thinks people are by and large tired of being sold to all the time.

From Salon

But while their impact on prices may be uncertain, consumers by and large consider tariffs to be both inflationary and detrimental to household finances, according to research conducted by the ECB.

From The Wall Street Journal

But by and large, European countries appear to be hoping the issue gets resolved through diplomacy rather than through further escalation.

From MarketWatch

But by and large, European countries appear to be hoping the issue gets resolved through diplomacy rather than through further escalation.

From MarketWatch

European nations by and large tried to recover by propping up their filmmakers with quotas and subsidies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• commonly
• consistently
• customarily
• frequently
• generally
• mostly
• naturally
• normally
• occasionally
• often
• ordinarily
• regularly
• routinely
• sometimes