by and large
On the whole
By and large means generally or on the whole, acknowledging exceptions while stating what's broadly true: By and large, the reviews were positive.
The phrase comes from sailing terminology—"by" and "large" were directions relative to the wind—but now simply signals a qualified generalization.
In most instances
- mostlyFor the greater part
- mainlyFor the most part
- typicallyIn the usual manner
- usuallyMost of the time
commonly · essentially · predominantly · principally · chiefly · broadly · substantially · ordinarily
generally
In most instances
usually · commonly · essentially · predominantly · principally · chiefly · broadly · substantially · ordinarily · customarily
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
- filler phrasesum, uh, like, you know, I mean
- summariessummary, synopsis, summaries, abstract, abstracts
- completenesscomplete, completely, entire, totally, total
by and largespecifically
In a precise manner
in particular · in detail · particularly · precisely · individually
by and largewithout exception
True for all cases
absolutely · invariably · no exceptions · unconditionally · categorically
by and largerarely
Not often occurring
seldom · hardly ever · infrequently · almost never · exceptionally
large, enlarge, largely, larger, bye-bye, bypass, largest, enlarged, enlargement