all things considered

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all things considered (not comparable) (modal, idiomatic)

1. Generally speaking; in terms of the big picture.

   Synonyms: all in all, by and large, for the most part, in the main, on balance, on the whole; see also Thesaurus:mostly, Thesaurus:generally

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

2. Despite possible indications to the contrary.

   Synonyms: actually, as a matter of fact, in fact, overall; see also Thesaurus:actually

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

   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XXXVII, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume II, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 356:

     “ […] and all things considered, I don't much regret that this affair with Miss Amory is manquée, though I wished for it once—in fact, all things considered, I am very glad of it.”

   • 1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, book the, 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. Given the constraints of the situation; relative to what would have been understandable.

   Synonyms: nevertheless, otherwise, considering

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

   • 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:

     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.

   • 1905, Upton Sinclair, chapter VII, in The Jungle, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 26 February 1906, →OCLC:

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