So to speak
Example: He is, so to speak, the boss of the team.
Definition
"So to speak" is a phrase used to indicate that a term or expression is being used in a figurative or non-literal way. It signals that what is being said should be understood as an analogy or a manner of speaking rather than a precise fact.
Etymology
The phrase "so to speak" originates from the early modern English period, combining 'so,' meaning 'in this way,' with 'to speak,' indicating the act of expressing something. It became a common idiomatic expression used to soften statements or acknowledge figurative language.
Learn to use this expression actively
"So to speak" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (B2) - set 1", containing 103 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
