in the (grand) scheme of things
In the long term; in the complete picture of something. I know you're worried about getting a bad grade on this test, but you're such a great student that I doubt it will matter in the grand scheme of things.
the scheme of things
the organization of things in general; the way the world is.the/somebody’s ˈscheme of things
the way the world and other things are or seem to be organized: Low-paid workers like us don’t have a very important place in the scheme of things.Don’t worry too much about your exam results; they’re not really important in the great scheme of things.