The performance of the car industry is a (good) pointer to the general economic health of the country.轿车工业的状况是显示该国经济总体情况的（很好的）晴雨表。His book moves from the general to the particular.他的书先介绍总体情况然后探讨具体问题。My concerns are all general—nothing specific.我关注的是总体情况，不是具体细节。We need to look at the big picture before we can work out specific details.我们要看看总体情况，再研究各项细节。