The phrase "to amount to" means that something is equal to, or has a total value of, another thing. It can be used in various contexts such as describing the result of an action, the outcome of a situation, or the sum of numbers. For example, if someone says "my efforts amounted to nothing," it means their hard work did not produce any positive results. Similarly, if one says "the total cost of the trip amounts to $1000," it implies that the entire expense for the journey is equal to $1000. In essence, this phrase conveys a sense of finality or conclusion about something.