on the whole.
phrase. You use by and large to indicate that a statement is mostly but not completely true. By and large, it went well. Synonyms: on the whole, generally, mostly, in general More Synonyms of by and large. See full dictionary entry for large.
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What does the phrase by in large mean?
By and large is originally a sailing term meaning “alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled.” A ship that is sailing “close-hauled” is sailing as directly into the wind as possible (typically within about 45 degrees of the wind).
Is by in large correct?
“By and large” is a nautical idiom with centuries of usage, so as an idiom it doesn’t operate precisely according to normal grammatical rules. So that answers the question. The phrase’s non-nautical meaning is “on the whole” or “generally speaking” — especially in the sense of “all things considered.”
What is the meaning of idiom by and large?
All in all, “by and large” means “both by [the wind] and large” (i.e. “both into the wind and with the wind”) in nautical terminology. When a ship is “good by and large”, it is good in any possible situation; that is, it is good in general, which gave birth to the modern English idiom. 0.
What does by and large in a town mean?
In general; overall. It’s a really cute town, and I like it by and large, but it’s just so far from all of my friends in the city. See also: and, by, large.
What is the meaning of phrase by and by?
: a future time or occasion. by and by. adverb. Definition of by and by (Entry 2 of 2) : before long, soon.
What is mean by and by?
The definition of by-and-by is at an unspecified, future time and place. An example of by-and-by used in a sentence is, “We’ll go on that vacation by-and-by,” which means we’ll go on that vacation at some point in the future. noun. 22.
How do you use by and large in a sentence?
usually; as a rule.
- They were, by and large, a very wealthy, privileged elite.
- Charities, by and large, do not pay tax.
- By and large, I enjoyed my time at school.
- By and large, these people are peace-loving, law-abiding citizens.
- By and large, the new arrangements have worked well.
Is by and large grammatically correct?
You use by and large to indicate that a statement is mostly but not completely true. By and large, it went well.
Can I start a sentence with by and large?
First Known Use of by and large 1706
To my ear, starting your essay with this phrase, although correct, weakens rather than strengthens your premise. “By and large” means, generally. Also, the phrase is an idiom and colloquial, fine for conversation, but not appropriate for an essay.
Do it by all means?
You can say ‘by all means’ to tell someone that you are very willing to allow them to do something. [formulae] ‘Can I come and have a look at your house?’ —’Yes by all means’. Synonyms: certainly, surely, of course, definitely More Synonyms of by all means.
Where did at large come from?
At large comes from the French au large which translates as at liberty, or free of restraint.
What is the meaning of the idiom by fits and starts?
To do something in “fits and starts” is to do it intermittently or sporadically: “Martina has been working on her master’s thesis in fits and starts; she needs to work on it consistently.”
What do you mean by city?
A city is an area in which a large number of people live fairly close together.A city is basically a big town — the population is large in relation to the amount of land, since people often live in apartments or multi-family housing. The largest city in the world today is Shanghai, China.
What do you mean by curiosity?
Full Definition of curiosity
1 : desire to know: a : inquisitive interest in others’ concerns : nosiness The construction inside their house aroused the curiosity of their neighbors. b : interest leading to inquiry intellectual curiosity Her natural curiosity led her to ask more questions.
What do you mean by towns?
Definition of town
1a : a compactly settled area usually larger than a village but smaller than a city. b : a compactly settled area as distinguished from surrounding rural territory. c : a large densely populated urban area : city.
Is by the by correct?
By the by is a phrase that is said before making a comment that is unrelated to the previous topic of conversation.This phrase can be written in two ways: by the by and by the bye. Both spellings mean the same thing; by the by is the more common variant. This phrase is similar to the phrase “by the way.”
Why by the by meaning in English?
incidentally; by the way: used as a sentence connector. See full dictionary entry for by. Collins English Dictionary.
Where does the phrase by the by come from?
Etymonline says of by: Originally an adverbial particle of place, in which sense it is retained in place names (Whitby, Grimsby, etc.). Elliptical use for “secondary course” (opposed to main) in Old English. Incidentally, this implies that by the by is the original spelling, while by the bye is now an accepted variant.
How Do You Use By?
How to use ‘by’
- By is a versatile preposition which can be used in a number of situations.
- We use by to show how something is done:
- We send a postcard or a letter by post.
- We contact someone by phone or by email.
- We pay for something by credit card or by cash.
- Something happens by mistake, by accident or by chance.
Is by dint of formal?
by dint of something/doing something
(formal) as a result of (doing) something; through: By dint of sheer hard work, she managed to pass all her exams.