all in all

A

all in all

Meaning

• considering everything that has happened
• taking everything into account
• in summary of
• everything considered, and in spite of anything to the contrary
• everything important, all encompassing

Example Sentences

1. She may not be brilliant, but all in all I think she did quite well in her exams.
2. All in all, it was a good trip; we enjoyed ourselves immensely despite the few difficulties we had to endure.
3. We had a great party all in all and we would like to have more such parties in the future.
4. All in all, it has been a difficult year for the financial markets and a depression seems to be looming.
5. We were expecting difference of opinions and heated arguments, but all in all, the meeting went well and everyone agreed to a mutually acceptable solution.
6. All in all, the negotiations were a success.
7. After his divorce, he immersed himself into writing poetry and it soon became his all in all.

Origin
This phrase was originally coined to allude to the omnipresent and all pervasive nature of the Christian God. It was used “The Great Bible” in 1539 with that meaning. The more recent usage of the term, meaning “everything considered”, began in the early 19th century. An early example is found in The Edinburgh Advertiser from July 1829. Both meanings of the phrase are currently in use.