On The Whole for Dummies
adverb
What does On The Whole really mean?
On The Whole is a phrase that we often use to talk about something in its entirety or as a whole. It is a way to summarize or give an overall understanding of a situation or topic. Picture a big puzzle, with lots of different pieces. Each piece represents a different aspect or part of the puzzle. Now, when we say "on the whole," we are stepping back from looking at just one piece and instead looking at the puzzle as a whole. It's like zooming out on a map to see the whole picture instead of just one street or neighborhood.
Let me give you an example to help make this clearer. Imagine you have a big bowl of fruit salad. It's filled with all kinds of fruits - apples, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and more. Each fruit is like a different detail or part of the whole fruit salad. Now, when we say "on the whole" fruit salad, we are talking about the entire bowl of fruit salad, not just one specific fruit. We are considering all the flavors, textures, and colors together to get a sense of what the fruit salad is like overall.
In everyday life, we use the phrase "on the whole" when we want to give a general opinion or view about something. For example, if we ask someone, "How was your day at school?" and they respond with "On the whole, it was great!", they are saying that, overall, their day at school was enjoyable and positive. It's like they are taking all the different parts of their day and coming to a conclusion about how it was as a whole.
Another way to think of it is as if you were a movie critic watching a film. When you write a review about the movie, you may talk about the different aspects like the acting, the story, the special effects, and the music. But then, when you want to give your final thoughts, you might say something like, "On the whole, it was a fantastic movie!" Here, you are considering the movie as a whole, taking into account all the different elements that make up a movie.
In summary, "On The Whole" means looking at something from a big picture perspective, considering all the different parts or aspects together to form an overall understanding or opinion. It's like having a complete view of a situation, topic, or thing instead of just focusing on one specific detail. So, next time you come across this phrase, remember to think about the puzzle, the fruit salad, or the movie review to help you grasp its meaning.
Let me give you an example to help make this clearer. Imagine you have a big bowl of fruit salad. It's filled with all kinds of fruits - apples, strawberries, bananas, grapes, and more. Each fruit is like a different detail or part of the whole fruit salad. Now, when we say "on the whole" fruit salad, we are talking about the entire bowl of fruit salad, not just one specific fruit. We are considering all the flavors, textures, and colors together to get a sense of what the fruit salad is like overall.
In everyday life, we use the phrase "on the whole" when we want to give a general opinion or view about something. For example, if we ask someone, "How was your day at school?" and they respond with "On the whole, it was great!", they are saying that, overall, their day at school was enjoyable and positive. It's like they are taking all the different parts of their day and coming to a conclusion about how it was as a whole.
Another way to think of it is as if you were a movie critic watching a film. When you write a review about the movie, you may talk about the different aspects like the acting, the story, the special effects, and the music. But then, when you want to give your final thoughts, you might say something like, "On the whole, it was a fantastic movie!" Here, you are considering the movie as a whole, taking into account all the different elements that make up a movie.
In summary, "On The Whole" means looking at something from a big picture perspective, considering all the different parts or aspects together to form an overall understanding or opinion. It's like having a complete view of a situation, topic, or thing instead of just focusing on one specific detail. So, next time you come across this phrase, remember to think about the puzzle, the fruit salad, or the movie review to help you grasp its meaning.
Revised and Fact checked by Michael Davis on 2023-10-29 13:41:00
On The Whole In a sentece
Learn how to use On The Whole inside a sentece
- On the whole, I think the movie was good, despite a few boring parts.
- On the whole, she is a good student, although she struggles in math.
- On the whole, the party was fun, even though it rained for a little while.
- On the whole, the book was interesting, but the ending was a bit disappointing.
- On the whole, the trip was enjoyable, except for the long bus ride.
On The Whole Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.