English

Adverb

all things considered ‎(not comparable)

1. (modal, idiomatic) Generally speaking; in terms of the big picture.

   Of course some areas are more dangerous than others, but all things considered Glasgow is quite a safe place to live.‎

   • 1906, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, Chapter 7

     Jurgis lost his temper very little, however, all things considered.

2. (modal, idiomatic) Despite possible indications to the contrary.

   Though only a few people attended the premiere, all things considered the play was rather a success.‎

   • 1865, Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, T. B. Peterson & Brothers, published 1865, page 159:

     Yet, all things considered, she was not of an evil mind or an unkindly disposition.

   • 1876, Henrietta H. Holdich, “My Georgie”, in Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Harper & Brothers, page 421:

     All things considered, he would not have been such a bad match for Ida, only that I knew the child did not really care about him, and there was Georgie breaking her proud, patient little heart for his sake, and nobody saw it but one old woman, who had been through it all herself, and knew what it meant.

3. (modal, idiomatic) Within the constraints of the situation.

   Although rationing was strict, they had a couple of chickens and a vegetable patch and they ate well, all things considered.‎

   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe:

     We had a good stock of tea, with which we treated our friends, as above, and we lived very cheerfully and well, all things considered.

Translations

Synonyms

• (generally speaking): all in all, by and large, for the most part, in the main, on the whole
• (contrary to indications): actually, as a matter of fact, in fact