"À peu près" is a French phrase that translates to "approximately" or "about" in English. It is commonly used to indicate an estimate or a rough approximation of a quantity, time, or situation. For example, one might say, "Il y a à peu près dix personnes ici," meaning "There are about ten people here." In everyday conversation, "à peu près" helps convey uncertainty or a lack of precision. It can be used in various contexts, such as discussing time, distance, or even opinions. This phrase is particularly useful when exact figures are not necessary or when one wants to express a general idea without being overly specific.