Donate SIGN UP
Home > Phrases & Sayings > Mainly, largely....

Mainly, largely....

Avatar Image
Aquagility | 13:36 Mon 12th Oct 2009 | Phrases & Sayings
3 Answers
Whence the phrases "In the main" and "By and large"?
prev Orange juice & lemonade drink - called Henry?
  
next Magpie
Gravatar

Answers

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by Aquagility. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
Avatar Image jno
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-bya1.htm
13:57 Mon 12th Oct 2009
Avatar Image Quizmonster
Even though the main sometimes means the sea, the phrase 'in the main' has nothing to do with sailing. It has been around since the 1600s and just means 'for the most part'...ie much the same as the modern meaning of 'by and large'. Mainly and mostly are effectively synonymous.
16:53 Mon 12th Oct 2009
Avatar Image Aquagility
Question Author
Thanks to both of you. Aq.
22:11 Tue 13th Oct 2009

1 to 3 of 3rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Mainly, largely....

Answer Question >>