All in all = after all?

Posted by ESC on September 06, 2004

In Reply to: All in all=after all? posted by Jo on September 06, 2004

: Hi there,

: I saw "all in all" being used somewhere. I don't recall how it was used.
: -All in all=after all?
: Do I have it right?

Not exactly. Someone else may be able to discuss the difference better than I.

From Merriam-Webster:

all in all -- on the whole. GENERALLY. All in all, things might have been worse.

after all
Function: adverb
1 : in spite of considerations or expectations to the contrary : NEVERTHELESS Decided to take the train after all. Didn't rain after all.
2 : in view of all circumstances Literature which is after all only a special department of reading -- W. W. Watt.