when all is said and done

When everything is finished or resolved. Yes, my sister's attempts to commandeer my party have been maddening, but when all is said and done, we'll reconcile—we always do.

See also: all, and, done, said

when all is said and done

Cliché when everything is finished and settled; when everything is considered. When all is said and done, this isn't such a bad part of the country to live in after all. When all is said and done, I believe I had a very enjoyable time on my vacation.

See also: all, and, done, said

when all's said and done

Also, after all is said and done. In the end, nevertheless, as in When all's said and done, the doctors did what they could for Gordon, but he was too ill to survive . This term was first recorded in 1560.

when (or after) all is said and done

when everything is taken into account (used to indicate that you are making a generalized judgment about a situation).

See also: all, and, done, said

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

when ˌall is said and ˈdone

when all the facts are considered: She doesn’t have a lot of experience but, when all is said and done, she’s the best person for the job.

See also: all, and, done, said

when all's (is) said and done

In the end, nevertheless. This cumbersome locution dates from the sixteenth century. The OED cites Thomas Ingelend in The Disobedient Child (1560): “When all is saide and all is done, Concernynge all thynges both more and lesse.”