by all accounts
according to what everyone says
In Spanish
according to what everyone says
Examples
- By all accounts, the new CEO is a thoughtful operator.
- By all accounts, the restaurant is the best place to eat in town.
- The film was, by all accounts, a huge success at the box office.
When it's used
This idiom is used to convey that something is generally accepted or known, based on multiple sources or testimonies. It is used in both spoken and written language, and is common in formal and informal contexts. It often appears in journalistic articles and analyses where the speaker wants to support a statement with general consensus.
The common mistake
A common mistake is to say 'by all the accounts', which adds an unnecessary article and changes the fixed idiomatic structure. Learners might also confuse it with 'by account', which does not convey the same meaning of widespread agreement.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
Practise speaking→