So, the other day, I got it into my head to really understand this phrase, “all adds up.” I mean, I’ve heard it a million times, and I use it, too. But did I really get what it meant? Not so sure. So, I started digging.
First, I hit up a bunch of those online dictionaries. You know, the usual suspects. They all pretty much said the same thing: “add up” means something makes sense, or it seems reasonable. Like, if someone gives you an explanation, and it feels right, you can say, “Yeah, that adds up.” One example that stuck with me was, “His explanation doesn’t add up. He can’t have been there alone.” That made sense to me. I could picture someone saying that.
But then, I saw another definition, “to equal the expected or presumed amount.” And an example about some numbers not adding up on a bill. That kind of threw me off a bit. Was it just about math? I mean we’ve all been there at a restaurant looking at the bill, and it just does not seem right, so in that case, the bill does not add up. Is that the only use of the phrase?
So, I kept looking, trying to find more examples. I stumbled upon some forums where people were talking about the phrase. One person said that they use “add up” when a bunch of small things combine to make something bigger. Like, you’re at the store, buying a bunch of little things, and suddenly the total at the checkout is way higher than you expected. Those little things all add up.
Putting it All Together
After all that, I think I finally got a better grasp on “all adds up.” It’s like, it can be used in a few different ways, but it all comes down to things coming together to form a whole, whether that’s an explanation, a total amount, or just a general feeling that something is right.
- When it makes sense: If someone’s story is fishy, you can say their story doesn’t add up.
- When the math doesn’t work: Like that restaurant bill example, if the numbers don’t match what you think they should, they don’t add up.
- When little things become big: Those small purchases adding up to a big total. That’s a classic “add up” situation.
So yeah, that’s my little journey into the world of “all adds up.” It’s one of those phrases that seems simple on the surface, but it actually has a bit more to it when you really start thinking about it.
Hope you enjoyed the ride.