the scheme of things
the way things are organized or happen in a particular situation, or the way someone wants them to be organized:
I was disappointed not to get the job, but it's not that important in the great/grand scheme of things (= when all things are considered).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Situations and circumstances
- affair
- backdrop
- background
- case
- circumstance
- climate
- condition
- farce
- footing
- going
- matrix
- perfect storm
- picture
- position
- practicality
- scheme
- situation
- snapshot
- stake
- thing