on the average

Idioms  

1. As a rule, usually, as in On the average, about 15 percent of the freshmen class will drop out before graduation. This expression uses average in the sense of “a norm or standard.” [First half of 1700s]

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Example Sentences

That means an extra £30 this year on the average bill funding Stormont spending – everything from schools, hospitals to housing and roads.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

But that responsibility of figuring out what’s truly safe and unsafe shouldn’t fall on the average consumer, Benesh emphasizes.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

Revenue increased 1% on the average of the prior two quarters, supported by 0.4% growth in net interest income and 5% growth in markets income.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

But the Dow comprises only 30 companies, weighted by share prices, so a sharp change in an expensive stock can exert strong pressure on the average.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

The checks that exist in nature are such that out of the millions of young produced by each pair only enough, on the average, survive to adulthood to replace the parent fish.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson