| after all | |
| 1. prep. Anyway, in any case; indicates a statement is true regardless of other considerations; used to reinforce or explain a point. | |
| After all, they never come home for Christmas. | |
| Of course he won't give you credit. After all, his first and last concern is his company's profit margin. | |
| 2. prep. In the end, however; used in referring to something that was believed to be the case, but is not; or to an outcome that is not what was expected or predicted. | |
| They won't be coming home for Christmas after all. | |
