be more/bigger/greater than the sum of its parts
To be something made up of a large collection of things or people in which the total unit is more important, impressive, successful, etc., than its components are individually. America is certainly greater than the sum of its parts. The global social networking site, so intrinsically connected to and supported by users, is certainly more than just the sum of its parts. Even though everyone in this department is vitally important, the work we are able to do together is more than the sum of its parts.
in sum
As a final brief, concluding point. In sum, if we do not address this issue now, it will become insurmountable in a few years' time. In sum, I'm quitting. In sum, we cannot continue our valuable medical research without increased funding from the university.
more/bigger/greater than the sum of its parts
Describes something made up of a large collection of things or people in which the total unit is more important, impressive, successful, etc., than its components are individually. America is certainly bigger than the sum of its parts. The global social networking site, so intrinsically connected to and supported by users, is certainly more than just the sum of its parts.
princely sum
1. cliché A very lavish or bountiful amount of money (as would befit a prince). I heard he bought this apartment for the princely sum of $4 million at the height of the real estate boom. Analysts are speculating that the company paid the princely sum of $7.5 billion to acquire the video game publisher.
2. An amount of money considered laughably or insultingly small. Said sarcastically. They paid me the princely sum of $50 for nearly a week's worth of work! A: "How much did you make selling lemonade on the corner?" B: "Only about five bucks." A: "Wow, a princely sum!"
sum total
Everything taken together; the entirety. Your thesis should be the sum total of everything you learned and researched throughout the year. If this is the sum total of your efforts, then we may need to seriously reevaluate your place in this business.
sum up
To give a brief and accurate summary, description, assessment, or representation of something; to summarize. A noun or pronoun can be used between "sum" and "up." To sum up, we need to reduce our expenditures and target new markets in order to grow. I feel like the book sums up everything I've been feeling since we moved. I can sum the project up in just three words: "Waste of time."
the princely sum of (some amount)
1. cliché An amount of money that is considered very lavish or bountiful (as would befit a prince). I heard he bought this apartment for the princely sum of $4 million at the height of the real estate boom. Analysts are speculating that the company paid the princely sum of $7.5 billion to acquire the video game publisher.
2. An amount of money considered laughably or insultingly small. Said sarcastically. They paid me the princely sum of $50 for nearly a week's worth of work! A: "How much did you make selling lemonade on the corner?" B: "The princely sum of five whole bucks."
the sum and substance
The central or most important idea, aspect, or part of something; the essence or summary of something. We don't have much time for this board meeting, so let's just get to the sum and substance straight away. The sum and substance of her argument is that a redistribution of wealth would spur the economy into huge gains.
zero-sum game
A situation, process, competition, or outcome in which the winner's gain is exactly equal to the loser's loss. Poker is a zero-sum game because the amount of money won by one player is equivalent to the amount lost by the other players.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
sum and substance
The essence or gist of something, as in The sum and substance of their platform is financial conservatism. This redundant expression-both sum and substance here mean "essence"-has probably survived owing to alliteration. Shakespeare used it in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (4:1): "My riches are these poor habiliments [clothes], Of which if you should here disfurnish me, You take the sum and substance that I have."
sum total
The entirety, everything, as in I spent all day in the kitchen and the sum total of my efforts is this cake. [Mid-1600s]
sum up
Present the substance of, summarize, as in They always sum up the important news in a couple of minutes, or That expletive sums up my feelings about the matter. [Early 1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.