Ships used to carry cannons. It is commonly agreed upon that "by and large" describe two sailing situations, and thus the idiom likely stemmed from the use of nautical terms. is a classic English idiom: It has a figurative meaning, and it’s nearly impossible to figure out this definition just by looking at the individual words that comprise it. (Well, maybe she hasn't actually agonized over it, but she really wants to know. Ships could also ‘sail large’, which meant sailing with the wind. Sign up for the For example, an excited student in a high school play might say "We filled up the auditorium, by and large." © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins What are the glass squares on either side of the presidential podium? Tip: See my list of the Most Common Mistakes in English. It's just one of those idioms that gets the point across as long as the audience understands it as well as you do. You may mean "By and Large" - meaning steering a course as far downwind as possible, keeping the sails full and the boat speed up. Here are just a few of the many other popular idiomatic expressions with nautical histories, along with their figurative meanings. Somewhat surprisingly, by and large does not have anything to do with the adverb “largely”, although they are synonyms. still move forward even heading into the wind, at least if handled correctly and in the right positioning to it. Similarly, an individual who lives in a large city might complain that "City traffic is so awful, by and large, that it is impossible to get anywhere on time."

To get a sense of the original meaning of the phrase we need to understand the nautical terms 'by' and 'large'. The origin of the idiom varies somewhat from source to source, but a common idea among all of the interpretations suggests that it came from terms used in sailing. Many phrases are wrongly ascribed a nautical origin just because they sound like mariners' lingo. Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. Let’s be honest, the expression “by and large” sounds weird. Seasickness is typically due to bad weather, which churns up rough waves that cause a ship to rock back and forth. By and large isn’t the only idiom with a maritime origin. The phrase "by and large" is an idiom that means "generally," "usually," or "all things considered," all of which are used to describe a fact or rule that has few exceptions. Again, if you tried to understand the phrase by and large literally, you would likely guess it means “close or near something big.” As you now know, it actually means “generally speaking.”Discover many more idioms here. In simplified terms it means 'in the general direction of'. But the expression is actually used to describe a person who’s in trouble. Absentee Ballot vs. Mail-In Ballot: Is There A Difference? By and large is originally a sailing term meaning "alternately close-hauled and not close-hauled." And when someone has hit the nail on the head, they’ve gotten an answer exactly right or done something exactly as it should have been done. The ropes or chains that hold tension in a ship’s sails are called sheets. A thesaurus will turn up additional options. It means "basically" or "generally" or "mainly". By and large is a popular English idiom meaning “generally speaking” and “for the most part.” It is used to indicate that something is mostly, although not entirely, true. by and large For the most part, generally speaking, as in By and large the novel was a success. What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”? I currently reside in Asheville, North Carolina. It was an order to the man at the helm of a sailing ship, meaning to sail the ship slightly off the wind. 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. In this case, it was said the ship was taken aback, another popular idiom, used today to mean “startled” or “surprised.” In combining the two nautical terms, which appears was a common occurrence beginning in the late 17th century, mariners used by and large to discuss sailing the seas in any and all directions, regardless of the ship’s position to the wind. Very often, they felt ill because they were seasick. In other words, although there may be a few exceptions, a statement is factual overall or on the whole.PS: Speaking of ships, here’s how to properly abbreviate captain. You can find me on LinkedIn, or access my online portfolio here! Being able to sail in this manner made it easier for the ship’s captain and crew to steer and control the ship, particularly in less-than-ideal sailing conditions. ", Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. Suffice it to say that it involves the use of triangular sails, which act like aeroplane wings and provide a force that drags the ship sideways against the wind; by this technique and by careful angling of the rudder the ship can make progress towards the wind. newsletter. Keep reading for the definition of this idiomatic expression and to take a journey back to its nautical origins.

Language experts are less sure of this phrase’s early life at sea than the others above. having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision. adv. For the past 15 years, I've dedicated my career to words and language, as a writer, editor, and communications specialist and as a language arts educator. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and a Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary English Education from the University of Florida. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. STAFF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL'S ONLINE AUXILIARY. The physics behind this is better left to others. Likewise, rather than literally being handed a tool for chopping wood, if you get the ax from your boss, it means you’re getting fired. Other frequently cited definitions for the idiom include "in all cases" and "in any case," which are interpreted similarly to the other definitions. THOUGH THE SDSAB DOES ITS BEST, THESE COLUMNS ARE EDITED BY ED ZOTTI, NOT CECIL, SO ACCURACYWISE YOU'D BETTER KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. "By and large" means "on the whole", "generally speaking", "all things considered".The phrase actually comes from a nautical term roughly meaning against the wind i.e. All Free. When sailors or other passengers on a ship felt sick, they would go below deck to feel better and recover. I'm excited to explore all things English with you and The Word Counter! “Hallowmas” vs. “All Saints’ Day”: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called? This expression originated in 17th-century seamanship, where it referred to sailing into the wind and then off it, which … 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. I have to admit I never wondered where this expression came from. The 19th century windjammers like Cutty Sark were able to maintain progress 'by and large' even in bad wind conditions by the use of many such aerodynamic triangular sails and large crews of able seamen. This one really is and, like many such nautical phrases, it originated in the days of sail. Olivia Isil cites the BBC’s highly acclaimed screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, where Miss Bennet remarks on the betrothal of Mr. Wickham to the odious Miss King: “by and large, it was to be expected.”, The phrase “by and large” today means “generally speaking,” “mostly” or “on the whole.” The origin is nautical, and had a very precise meaning. The origin is nautical, and had a very precise meaning. Ships in those days could sail ‘by the wind’ i.e.

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