By and large

This odd expression, which means ‘largely’, ‘mostly’, or ‘in general’ has become something of a meaningless cliché these days, but this was not always the case. In the 17th century, by and large were originally technical nautical terms. Ships in those days could sail ‘by the wind’ i.e. towards the wind at an angle, which meant sailing close-hauled or to within a maximum of five or six points off the wind. Ships could also ‘sail large’, which meant sailing with the wind. If a ship sailed directly into the wind head on, chances are it would be taken aback. Therefore, in nautical parlance by and large meant all sailing possibilities. It was not long before this nautical expression was adopted into Standard English to mean ‘in general’ which it did so from the early 18th century.