ENGLISH
REFERENCE

it all depends

idiom
Meaning

You say this when the answer to a question is not a simple 'yes' or 'no'. It means the outcome is affected by many different factors.


Examples
SIMPLE

Will you go to the beach? It all depends on the weather.

CONTEXTUAL

I asked if we should start the project today, but he said it all depends on when the materials arrive.

COMPLEX

Whether the company survives the economic downturn, the manager explained, it all depends on how quickly they can adapt to the changing market.

Last updated April 22, 2026