on the whole
For the most part; apart from some insignificant details.
The language was wrong for the period, but, on the whole, I enjoyed the film.
adj
Entire, undivided.
I ate a whole fish.
During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant[…]
Entire, undivided.
I brought a whole lot of balloons for the party. She ate a whole bunch of french fries.
There, a huge blue heron stands sentry like a statue, eye on the surface, waiting for his next meal to wriggle by. A lone grassy hill overlooks it all, well above the flood line, big enough to pitch a whole mess of tents [on].
Sound, uninjured, healthy.
He is of whole mind, but the same cannot be said about his physical state.
Here, with one balm for many fevers found, / Whole of an ancient evil, I sleep sound.
From which none of its constituents has been removed.
whole wheat; whole milk
As yet unworked.
adv
In entirety; entirely; wholly.
I ate a fish whole!
That’s a whole other story.
noun
Something complete, without any parts missing.
This variety of fascinating details didn't fall together into an enjoyable, coherent whole.
An entirety.